To the editor:

ICE agents must remove their masks. This is a small act but one that has the potential to affect substantial change. It is a change that hopefully every American, regardless of political ideology, can and should support.

We’ve had a lot of recent experience with masks. Most of us wore masks during the early COVID months. We hoped we were helping to keep ourselves and our community safe, but it felt otherworldly — dystopic — not being able to see each other’s faces. We’ve also seen people with bad intentions wearing masks to conceal their identity while perpetrating a crime (something that had occurred for years but became more common during and since COVID).

The supposed reason for having ICE agents wear masks is to protect them from personal targeting, or doxxing; but, as pertains to their identity, are these agents risking anything more than any of us risk in the course of our jobs and lives? Cell phones are everywhere, in every aspect of our lives, and we all risk being captured on camera and having our unauthorized images posted on social media.

There are heightened dangers inherent to certain professions. Dangers which are presumably understood and assumed by individuals who choose these professions. Fire personnel, police officers, prison guards all knowingly accept risks. Our military. Medical personnel. Even professions once thought of as safe, i.e. teachers, are no longer without personal safety risks. People are trained. Precautions are taken but concealing one’s identity for safety’s sake seems like a dangerous precedent.

I imagine what it would be like for armed men in face masks to come to my door. I think about what it would be like to be pulled over in my car and approached by masked men. When people run or drive off, it may not be because they are guilty, but instead, maybe, because they are scared. Armed individuals who wear masks create an atmosphere of fear and hostility which feeds on itself, and can escalate until someone is killed.

Face masks hide a person’s identity. Why are ICE agents hiding? Are they ashamed or embarrassed by their conduct? If they aren’t doing anything wrong, they should have nothing to worry about. Are they fearful? Can these agents exercise good judgment if they are fearful?

Are these individuals ill-prepared for the responsibility? Face masks are not a solution.

It appears that we will be debating immigration issues for months to come. Who can come? Who can stay? What will we do to reconcile the fact that there are decent, hardworking people in this country whose only crime is they came here seeking a better life, but broke the law by doing that. This is a contentious issue and hopefully one that this country can find a way to resolve, but until we can come together, to work together, hopefully we can agree on this one issue. ICE agents must NOT be permitted to wear masks when performing their jobs. It puts everyone at greater risk for harm.

Deb Story

Saranac Lake