Democrats' bills requiring ICE agents to be identifiable show they 'hate our country,' Trump says

President Trump said Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla and Cory Booker hate America because of their new bill calling for immigration agents to have a legible ID and no face coverings other than a medical mask.

The proposal from Mr. Padilla of California and Mr. Booker of New Jersey would require Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to display an ID that legibly shows what agency they’re from, along with names and badge numbers. It would also prohibit them from wearing face masks, like ski masks.

“They wouldn’t be saying that if they didn’t hate our country, and they obviously do,” Mr. Trump said Wednesday while meeting with African leaders. “I’m surprised that they would do it.”

“These officers are doing a tremendous job. They’re great patriots,” he said. “If you expose them because of statements that have been made by Democrats and others … you put them in great danger, tremendous danger.”

Department of Homeland Security officials have said the agents wear masks to prevent doxing that would put them and their families in danger.

ICE officers have suffered a 700% increase in assaults against them since Mr. Trump took office, according to DHS.

The president said that when people would protest in front of universities, like the anti-Israel ones, and cover their faces but “nobody complains about that but when a patriot who works for ICE or border patrol puts a mask on so that they won’t recognize him and his family so they can lead a little bit of a normal life after working so hard and so dangerously, there’s a problem with that.”

He said Democrats have “lost their confidence … and become somewhat deranged.”

Rep. Grace Meng, New York Democrat, introduced a similar bill Wednesday.

Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both of Virginia, also called for immigration agents to limit the use of masks and properly identify themselves. They made the demands in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, border czar Tom Homan, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations D.C. Field Office Director Russell Hott.

Mr. Padilla said allowing agents to show up in masks and with no ID “only escalates tensions and spreads fear while shielding federal agents from basic accountability.”

“Immigration agents should be required to display their agency and name or badge number — just like police and other local law enforcement agencies,” he said in a statement.