21 Democratic AGs demand Congress end masked ICE arrests
Why it matters: It's the latest flashpoint in a growing national effort by blue-state officials to curb what they see as overreaches by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and stop tactics they argue are designed to sow fear.
It comes amid a spike in reports of ICE officers snatching people from streets, homes, workplaces and courthouses while concealing their identity and using unmarked vehicles.
State of play: In a letter to congressional leaders on Tuesday, the attorneys general called on Congress to pass legislation prohibiting federal immigration agents from hiding their faces and requiring them to display identification and agency insignia — with exceptions only in narrowly justified cases.
They argue the tactics erode public trust, create confusion with criminal kidnappings, and violate core democratic values.
What they're saying: "We have watched these detentions with alarm, as the imagery evokes comparisons to repressive tactics that have no place in a free country," the letter states.
ICE officers' "now routine practice of carrying out arrests in public spaces through masked agents who do not identify themselves as law enforcement has the effect of terrorizing communities rather than protecting them," it adds.
For the record: The letter was signed by attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
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The divide comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government suffered a serious blow on Tuesday when an ultra-Orthodox party announced it was bolting the coalition. His rule isn't immediately in jeopardy, but the exit could set the stage for a months-long crumbling of the government and complicate efforts to halt the war in Gaza. ▪ PBS NewsHour: The European Union is seeking updates from Israel on implementation of a new deal to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. ▪ The New York Times: Israel intervened in sectarian violence in Syria and attacked the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. ▪ The Associated Press: Francesca Albanese, the United Nations' special rapporteur for Gaza and the West Bank, said nations around the world should take concrete actions to stop what she called the 'genocide' in Gaza. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously announced sanctions on Albanese over what he called her 'anti-Israel' stance. Opinion Public media can be a lifeline. Gutting it hurts everyone, The New York Times editorial. Soft power for a tough world, by William H. McRaven, opinion contributor, The Washington Post. The Closer And finally … 🦢 'All up!' It's Swan Upping season in London. One of King Charles III 's lesser-known titles is Seigneur (or Lord) of the Swans. According to ancient lore, the monarch owns all members of the mute swan species found in Britain's open waters. And those swans must be counted — in an annual five-day swan census. Every year, a team of oarsmen are tasked with finding the swans on a stretch of the Thames. When a family is spotted, they shout, 'All up!' and the boats quickly surround the birds, mark them and check for signs of disease or injury.
