New DHS Rules Affecting Protests and Arrests

Federal agents have encountered various levels of pushback from protesters, particularly in liberal cities like Portland and Chicago. Recently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rolled out new regulations aimed at aiding police in their challenging roles.

This past week, the DHS revised its guidelines regarding what is prohibited or restricted on federal properties, signaling that those who wear face coverings need to proceed with caution.

These regulations apply to “Federal property or areas adjacent to it that could affect, threaten, or endanger Federal property or persons located on Federal property.”

Specifically, it is illegal to “wear a mask, hood, disguise, or any item that hides the wearer’s identity when trying to evade detection or identification while breaking any federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation,” according to the rules.

The updated regulations emphasize that their enforcement spans “Federal property or nearby areas that pose a threat to Federal property or individuals present on it.”

Investigative journalist Katie Daviscourt noted that this adjustment is significant because it significantly expands federal agents’ power to make arrests around federal facilities in places like Portland, which had largely fallen under local police jurisdiction.

On Wednesday, DHS officials at the Portland facility announced that they had begun implementing this renewed policy, which was initially set to begin in 2019.

According to the DHS, violations of these new rules could result in federal charges carrying a penalty of up to 30 days in jail and a fine of $5,000.

This expanded authority could streamline processes for federal agents dealing with situations related to the deportation of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.