Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to refrain from wearing face masks to align with members of Congress, the National Guard, and police.
Moskowitz appeared on Fox News’s America Reports on Wednesday as the House gears up to vote on a bipartisan homeland security funding bill. Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee have cut $115 million from ICE operations while earmarking $20 million to equip ICE officers with body cameras.
“I do support body cameras on ICE, I do support unmasking people,” Moskowitz said. “We shouldn’t have masked law enforcement. No one is masked, not our police officers, not our SWAT, not our National Guard, not our military. No one is masked. ICE should not be masked either.”
“I get death threats every single day,” he added. “I don’t get to mask my face. I had a constituent who tried to kill me, serving 25 years in federal prison, the DOJ just prosecuted him. I do not get to mask my face. I have a police officer in front of my house. My kids have to live with that. I do not get to mask my face.”
Moskowitz benefits from the recently boosted personal security funding for House members. Every month, Moskowitz can use $10,000 in taxpayer dollars for his own security when he is not at the Capitol. Additionally, Moskowitz has access to the new mobile duress system, which will provide real-time alerts from local law enforcement, Capitol Police, and the House sergeant-at-arms.
Fox News host Sandra Smith pointed out the discrepancy between a member of Congress and an ICE officer.
“Just so you know, in a lot of these cities, they do not have police backup,” she said. “How do you feel about that? Minneapolis, they have told them to stand down when they call for backup.”
Moskowitz responded by saying, “Obviously, law enforcement should coordinate with federal law enforcement, and I think that should get worked out.”
JUDGE DECLINES TO BLOCK ICE ADVANCED NOTICE POLICY FOR CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT
Back in November, the Homeland Security Department reported a 1,153% increase in assaults against ICE officers in 11 months. Additionally, the number of death threats made against ICE officers increased by 8,000%.
The permanent security funding program for House members was put into place after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. In the Senate, lawmakers are also allowed to use their congressional funds for private security.
