Secretary Kristi Noem Asked Point Blank About ICE Agents Wearing Masks To Hide Their Identities

At a press briefing on Friday in Illinois, DHS Sec. Kristi Noem spoke about ICE wearing masks to protect their identities during raids.

Transcript

00:00What are your policies specifically about identification and masks for ICE agents?

00:04Are they being told they do not have to identify themselves?

00:07ICE is always wearing something that identifies them, who they are, and what operation they're out on.

00:13I would say that they wear masks at times to protect their identities from dangerous situations.

00:19The leadership teams, we leave that up to them to discern what's necessary in certain situations.

00:25And with the rise in violence that we continue to see against these officers,

00:28with that 1,000 percent increase, it's making sure that they are safe while they do this job

00:35and that they get home to their families at night, too, is incredibly important.

00:38So is your understanding they are identifying themselves?

00:41Yes.

00:42Is there some cases where they're not wearing identification?

00:44I would like to see that because they have identification.

00:48They have gone into situations, and when they have been out looking for these dangerous criminals

00:53and have been identifying, verbally identifying themselves,

00:56and if there is a mask required, it's for their safety because of the situation that they're encountering.