Todd Lyons, the director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is urging politicians to “stop putting my people at risk.” In a recent video, he criticized Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, suggesting that their statements about ICE are inflaming public sentiment and potentially endangering agents.
Mayor Wu expressed concern over the safety of individuals being detained by masked federal agents, stating, “People are scared for their lives and for their neighbors who are being taken off the streets.” She emphasized a lack of transparency regarding the reasons for these detentions.
Leah Foley, a lawyer from Massachusetts, responded to the concerns about agents wearing masks. She noted that these agents, who are identifiable by their uniforms, are often targeted as a result of the narratives promoted by political leaders like Wu. She highlighted that fear for their safety is why they choose to conceal their faces.
Wu also took aim at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and commented on the appropriateness of agents wearing masks. She mentioned, “I don’t know of police stations where I wear masks daily.” Wu’s remarks drew further criticism after she compared ICE’s practices to those of a neo-Nazi group, which she later clarified was not her intention.
In response, the DHS condemned Wu’s comments, stating that masks are used for safety reasons, particularly when agents are carrying out operations against violent criminals.
Jeffries has indicated that ICE agents attempting to conceal their identities during operations will ultimately be identified, regardless of their efforts. This assertion came amid discussions surrounding the accountability of law enforcement following different instances involving ICE.
Separately, an incident involving a DHS agent and Rep. Jerry Nadler escalated when the agent attempted to enter Nadler’s office amid protesters. The DHS addressed this by confirming that officers identified themselves while trying to conduct security checks, which led to a confrontation with an individual who obstructed their access.
Fox News Digital reached out to both Wu and Jeffries for comments but did not receive a reply before publication.
