Drop the masks

Mr. Flaherty (Letters, July16) views demands that ICE agents drop their face masks as “lunacy from the left.” On deeper inspection, Mr. Flaherty, it is a good policy. Psychologists know that if one’s identity is hidden it becomes easier to ignore civilized conventions. Chat rooms on the internet show how easy it is for unidentified people to become abusive in ways normally absent. The danger of widespread abuse by Ice agents is far greater than that encountered by a few Ice agents who behaved badly enough to motivate their being tracked down by angry protesters. How many cities allow their police to wear masks and carry no identification? Apparently, they have a monopoly on common sense! Protesters, who face an authoritative government that has the resources, nastiness and will to punish them in countless ways, despite their right to peaceful protest, face an unnerving, long-lasting threat. They have a reason to wear a mask. I suspect that only a small percentage of protesters throw large rocks, a crime that allows conservatives to broad brush the entire movement.

— Dave E. Matson, Pasadena

ICE in Whittier

Timely articles in your paper have noted the serious ICE actions recently in Whittier. Many speakers at last Tuesday’s Whittier City Council meeting eloquently lambasted our council for not taking proactive action in defense of Whittier residents ICE puts at risk. Area legislators Rep. Linda Sanchez, Assemblymember Lisa Calderon and county Supervisor Janice Hahn all urged Whittier’s action against ICE in a joint letter.

Personally I have no problem with unmasked/identifiable federal authorities arresting undocumented violent criminals in our midst although I believe this number is quite limited. But undocumented immigrants long residing in this country peacefully working tirelessly at jobs most of us would not want, including Dreamers, must be given a pass and route for citizenship -- not deported mercilessly splitting families here in Southern California, upending our economy.

— Lee Willard, Whittier

Breaking the law

Let’s talk about illegal immigration and enforcement. I believe that every adult who illegally entered the United States knew that they were breaking the law, but came anyway. I am also sure they believed that no one would look for them after they arrived in the U.S.A., and if caught and given a court date, and they did not show up, no one would look for them. Also, California has declared itself a “sanctuary state” and police agencies who have immigrant felons who are being released can’t report these releases to ICE. I don’t want these felons in my community, but they are here thanks to Gov. Newsom.

Now that illegal immigration enforcement has begun, why is everyone complaining that illegal immigrants are being arrested? Why are people complaining that illegal immigrant families are being torn apart by these arrests? If I was arrested, say for theft, I would be separated from my wife and children even though I have been a U.S. citizen for 77 years by birth. No one is complaining about that. Why did some cities cancel Fourth of July events but no Cinco de Mayo events were canceled? I think I know. Headlines for the cause being reported on.

I believe that the immigration policies of the U.S. are flawed and need to be updated and improved, but until that happens the existing laws and policies must be followed. If not, only confusion and uncertainty will reign.

— Paul Long, Whittier

Personal shame

Published reporting and opinions about federal agents hiding their identities have raised good points about fear and danger but missed another key factor: agents’ personal shame about what they are doing. Put yourself in their shoes. It is hard to have enough backbone to say “No” to the bully-bosses or quit. A few may relish being cruel with impunity. Others, though, surely have enough sense of right and wrong to realize which applies to seizing hundreds of non-violent people just trying to work and frightening thousands of others into not working. It is so obvious that even the politicians and officers who send agents out on raids without wearing insignia appear to realize that what they’re doing would disgrace any uniform. Among the victims are the face-hiding agents obeying orders against moral principles, who may suffer PTSD for years.

— Guy Webster, Pasadena