ICE director defends agents wearing masks amid backlash

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Chief Todd Lyons is pushing back against critics who

say ICE agents wearing masks during immigration arrests is unnecessary and meant to intimidate

Lyons defended the use of facial disguises Monday as the Trump administration moves to

deliver on its promise of mass deportations. During a press conference, a reporter asked Lyons

why ICE agents are masked during arrests. He said it's about protecting his officers

some of whom have been targeted with death threats and doxing. Two weeks ago in Los Angeles, we ran an operation where ICE officers were doxed

So let's just say that again. People are out there taking photos of the names, their faces

and posting them online with death threats to their family and themselves

So I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there

and put their lives on the line and their family on the line because people don't like what immigration enforcement is

But criticism is not just coming from the left. Conservative commentator Bill Kristol

condemned the masks on CNN's Newsnight, calling them an intimidation tactic, not a safety measure

I mean, it's pathetic to pretend that, oh, we're so concerned about their safety, they have to wear masks

I grew up in New York City, 40,000 cops, extremely dangerous circumstances. None of them wear masks

except on extremely rare occasions when they were going after some gang leader who might have relatives who go after them

If you know, if they didn't, ICE agents have functioned in this country. They didn't wear masks. They shouldn't wear masks

It's total nonsense. And it's for intimidation. It's not really for their protection. It's ridiculous. Lyons made his comments at a press conference in Boston, where he announced nearly

1,500 immigration arrests in Massachusetts last month. We were able to arrest almost 1,500

illegal aliens throughout the Commonwealth during the month of May most of whom have significant criminality in the United States or abroad Throughout this enhanced immigration enforcement operation ICE and our

federal partners targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested

neighborhoods of Massachusetts. Lions also appeared on Fox over the weekend, touting a sharp increase

in daily arrests. So right now we're sitting at just over 1,600 arrests a day. ICE can do more

we will do more. That's more than double the agency's earlier pace, which had been just over

650 arrests a day between January and May. But the use of masks has become a flashpoint

in a broader debate over ISIS tactics, especially in public spaces like restaurants

On Friday, an ice raid at a popular Italian restaurant in San Diego sparked outrage. The

mayor says agents in tactical gear stormed the restaurant during dinner preparations

using smoke devices and causing panic among staff, customers, and bystanders. ICE claims the crowd became unruly and issued this statement

When gatherings like these are formed, it not only places law enforcement in danger

but also the demonstrators, onlookers, attempting to impede law enforcement activity. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Representative Scott Peters both condemned the raid

Gloria called it a failure of public safety, saying it undermines trust and creates fear in the community

The owners of the restaurant, Buena Forchetta, said they're temporarily closing both Southern California locations

In a statement, they wrote, We wish we could find stronger words, but the truth is we are heartbroken

The traumatic incident involving a federal law enforcement operation at our original and beloved South Park location has left a mark on all of us

A wound that is still raw, still echoing in our kitchens, our rooms and our hearts

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