A new bill from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would require federal law enforcement officers to identify themselves while on the job.
The New York Democrat announced her intention to introduce legislation that would prohibit federal officers from enforcing the law in unmarked uniforms on Monday. If the bill becomes law, federal officers would need to have their name, the name of their agency, and their badge number visible on their uniforms. The legislation also requires the inspector general’s office for the Department of Justice to conduct routine audits to ensure federal agents are complying.
A representative for the congresswoman told the Nation that the legislation had been in the works for “months,” but lawmakers hope the recent reports of unidentified officers arresting protesters in Portland and detaining them in unmarked vans will serve as a “catalyst” for the bill.
For the past several weeks, Portland has been the scene of large protests, some of which have devolved into riots that featured looting, arson, and vandalism. Federal law enforcement was sent to the city to help curb the violent unrest. Officials in Portland did not request the federal assistance, and Mayor Ted Wheeler told CNN on Sunday that he believed the protests were beginning to calm down until federal officers arrived.
“The president has a complete misunderstanding of cause and effect. What’s happening here is we have dozens, if not hundreds of federal troops descending upon our city. And what they’re doing is they are sharply escalating the situation,” Wheeler said.
“Their presence here is actually leading to more violence and more vandalism. And it’s not helping the situation at all. They’re not wanted here. We haven’t asked them here. In fact, we want them to leave,” he added.
Ocasio-Cortez plans to introduce the legislation with Washington, D.C., Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton. Federal officers have clashed with protesters in the nation’s capital while securing the White House and other federal properties.
