Mike German, an ex-FBI agent, said immigration agents hiding their identities ‘highlights the illegitimacy of actions’

Some wear balaclavas. Some wear neck gators, sunglasses and hats. Some wear masks and casual clothes.

Across the country, armed federal immigration officers have increasingly hidden their identities while carrying out immigration raids, arresting protesters and roughing up prominent Democratic critics.

It’s a trend that has sparked alarm among civil rights and law enforcement experts alike.

Mike German, a former FBI agent, said officers’ widespread use of masks was unprecedented in US law enforcement and a sign of a rapidly eroding democracy. “Masking symbolizes the drift of law enforcement away from democratic controls,” he said.

  • chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    5 hours ago

    The more illegitimate police act, the more resistance to their activities will result.

    Have to wonder if this kind of escalation is the whole point

  • shalafi@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    Fuck me. The local cops are doing this on my street. Not a uniform, squad car, badge, nothing in sight.

    What do think would have happened if I walked down there with my AR-15 and said, “Who the fuck are you people and what the fuck are you doing?!”

    • krashmo@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      I think you should find out. I think every person in America should do exactly that until these SS wannabe shitbags stop doing this kind of thing.

      • f314@lemmy.world
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        3 hours ago

        I mean, this is exactly the type of shit the second amendment allegedly is there for…

  • alaphic@lemmy.world
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    7 hours ago

    Anyone wanna take bets on how much the Venn diagram of these pieces of trash and people who ‘couldn’t wear a mask during COVID because they couldn’t breathe’ resembles a circle?