ICE agents wearing masks add new levels of intimidation, confusion during L.A. raids

Los Angeles Times ^ | July 7, 2025 8:35 AM PT | Jenny Jarvie

[E. Pluribus Unum]

For many Angelenos, the spectacle of armed federal agents — faces hidden behind neck gaiters and balaclavas — jumping out of unmarked vans to snatch people off the streets presents a clear threat to public safety.

As federal immigration agents have ratcheted up enforcement raids, arresting and detaining anyone they suspect of violating immigration laws, critics warn their tactic of masking — particularly when wearing plain clothes and no visible marker of identity — spreads fear and panic across communities and imperils citizens as well as immigrants without legal status.

“It’s very dangerous,” said Scott Shuchart, who worked for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from 2022 until January of this year as an assistant director for regulatory affairs and a policy counselor.

“If somebody comes up to you with a mask and a T-shirt and no badge, why would you think that they are exercising a legitimate authority, as opposed to being a violent criminal trying to do you harm?” Schuchart said. “How do you know that you need to not resist to avoid arrest, as opposed to resist arrest to possibly survive the encounter?”

But defenders of federal immigration agents also cite security as a reason for masking.

They present immigrants without legal papers as a threat to public safety, even though the majority of people ICE arrested across LA in early June had no criminal record. They also argue that masking is necessary because a convergence of factors — supercharged political rhetoric, more sophisticated facial recognition technology, and increased threat of doxing on social media — makes the job more dangerous for agents in the field.

“We have a lot of agents whose faces are being put on social media platforms across the country,” said Mathew Silverman, national president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. “We have politicians right...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Better self-deport to avoid the fear and confusion.

[Steve_Seattle]

Has the LAT ever condemned Antifa and BLM rioters for the increased sense of intimidation that THEIR masks create?

[MeanWestTexan]

I don’t have a problem with the masks.

The cops do need to be in obvious uniform.

If some random dude in a t-shirt and mask tried to “arrest” me, I’d shoot him and we’d probably both end up dead.

[dljordan]

“Six California Republican state lawmakers sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging Immigration and Customs Enforcement to avoid “sweeping raids” and create “a path to legal status” for “non-criminal undocumented immigrants.”

Already. Some Republicans.

[lee martell]

If you’re an illegal, you are supposed to be intimidated by ICE agents. You are supposed to be ‘confused’ or shaken up.

[TornadoAlley3]

If you are an American citizen you have nothing to fear.

[TokarevM57]

....”....For many Angelenos, the spectacle of armed federal agents — faces hidden behind neck gaiters and balaclavas — jumping out of unmarked vans to snatch people off the streets presents a clear threat to public safety.”......well, to whomever the dip-s**t is who wrote that piece of crap, don’t the hundreds of undocumented thugs who were let into this country by the previous abysmal administration pose “threats to public safety”.....?? as well.....LAT.....? another name for toilet paper....??

[Persevero]

Well, cartels and gang members intimidate me. So.

[PGR88]

faces hidden behind neck gaiters and balaclavas — jumping out of unmarked vans to snatch people off the streets

Let's give them frickin' lasers on their heads, too.

[FlingWingFlyer]

What the hell is an Angelenose? A fancy name for a Cinco De Mayo?

[Slingwing]

I seem to remember when masking was mandatory for just about anything a person did in the name of safety. My the wheels have turned.

[TheDon]

“non-criminal undocumented immigrants.”

Sure, why not. As there’s no such thing by definition.

[NorthMountain]

If you are an American citizen you have nothing to fear.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

Armed agents of the State in this country have a long and sordid history of assaulting the wrong people at the wrong address. Some of that history has been thoroughly discussed on this forum, so there's no excuse for "FReepers" to pretend that it doesn't exist.

[9YearLurker]

Alex Jones and Roger Stone gushing about Trump’s AMNESTY now.

Bush 3.0 full charge ahead!

[DJ Frisat]

Just tell ‘em the ICE agents are worried about catching or spreading COVID...

[mass55th]

Only criminals get to wear masks, don’t you know?

[TornadoAlley3]

What American citizen has ICE thrown into the back of a van?

[9YearLurker]

Oh, you sure do! Alex Jones and Roger Stone are both defending Trump’s amnesty now! No recognition of it continuing to screw our low-skill and working-class Americans.

Sickening!

[markman46]

well to add to this BS la slimes story, Fox11 la had a copter view of Ice staging at MacArthur park, and Karen Bass just had to show up and cause a stink.. then ran away into her city provider SUV.

[A_Former_Democrat]

“ freelancing for publications including The Times, the New Republic, Atlantic’s CityLab and ArtsATL. Raised in England and Italy, Jarvie studied English literature and philosophy at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and began her journalism career at the Daily Telegraph in London”

Gee, looks like another immigrant, white female, who has “freelanced”. Not even a journalism degree.

Btw, she doesnt even live in California