Multifaith Initiative EMI

There are no protocols dictating when officers can or should wear face masks during arrests, but during the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, more federal officers are choosing to cover their faces. The widespread use of technology to reveal officers’ personal information—such as names and home addresses—has prompted even plainclothes officers to wear masks, a practice that has become increasingly controversial as news footage from detention centers gains more exposure.

When addressing this topic, John Miller, CNN’s chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst, said, “It raises the question, if they are legitimate law enforcement agents carrying out a proper arrest under the law, why are they hiding their identities?” Additionally, the administration is demanding mask bands on college campuses, while allowing federal agents to wear them. We’ll keep an eye on the implications of this double standard.