HB1142

This is literally the least we can do which also supports transparency.

I believe all officers should be transparent and traceable

Hello, I am an average citizen. I am an average citizen, concerned with the fate of our society. Most importantly, I am concerned about the small community that I reside in. New Hampshire has always meant "safety". New Hampshire has been a home I can call my own, and I haven't had to worry about my freedom, or my children's. Lately, I AM worried. Once a joker, where I saw politics as a war than cannot be won, a stand-up comedy routine between powerful entities, has now become something much more sinister. I see my sister states suffering; I see PEOPLE suffering. As an average citizen, I am not allowed to walk into a bank with a masked face, because I would be seen as a threat. Imagine, if I were to walk around town with a masked face, I would be immediately seen as a criminal with intent to harm. Take it another step further - imagine I am walking around town with a masked face, armed, and grabbing people off the street, using any type of force I deemed necessary - I would then be considered a felon. There is absolutely no justified means for any person, law enforcement or citizen, to be walking around masked, if not under the direction of a massive health outbreak, such as COVID-19. If we lose control over law enforcement and the regulations, we WILL, in result, lose complete control of society, and everything our Democracy stands for.

Transparency in government is important to me, our tax dollars fund our law-enforcement and we should be able to know who they are. By not wearing masks law-enforcement helps build trust in communities. When they remain masked they provoke fear in our communities and distance themselves from the communities they’re meant to protect.

quotes below this article that highlight the problem with masked ice and other federal and law enforcement officer wearing masks. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/masked-and-unidentifiable-the-risks-of-federal-law-enforcement-operating-without-identification/ "This is the new, frightening image of U.S. immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump: violence, covered faces, and unknown agency affiliations. These images signal a troubling move “away from democratic controls,” where officers are visible and accountable to the communities they serve, and toward militarization that serves to instill fear and stifle dissent." Enforcement actions by masked or unidentifiable officers, which have even included the arrests of elected officials and other U.S. citizens, are part of a broader effort to keep up with arbitrary and cruel immigration arrest quotas set by the Trump administration. "As a result, today, ICE is operating in ways akin to the actions of secret police forces, tasked with carrying out Trump’s political agenda. These practices have stoked fear in communities across the country and raised serious questions about the safety and legitimacy of their operations under the Trump administration." Recently, attorneys general from 21 different states called on Congress to pass legislation that both prohibits federal agents from wearing face coverings to conceal identity and implements requirements for showing identification and agency designation. In addition to potentially violating federal law, officers operating without providing their agency or personal identifiers make everyone less safe—from law enforcement to civilians to entire communities. The presence of unidentifiable officers makes policing more challenging and dangerous, as community members or fellow officers may mistake them for a lawbreaker. Moreover, this practice spurs dangerous impersonations, impedes accountability for officers who are engaged in misconduct, and undermines trust in law enforcement. I do not trust ICE and the federal goverments actions with ice and boarder security agents. I do not want any of our NH police officers being placed in difficult and compromising positions through 287g agreements at all. i certainly don't want our community police force wearing masks alongside this bunch

Dear Members of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, I am writing in support of HB 1142. I am a nurse midwife and have been a NH resident for 60 years. I am in favor of HB1142 because this bill promotes transparency and accountability. Clear identification of authority helps protect civil rights, reduce confusion, and maintain trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Strong community trust is essential for public safety in New Hampshire. HB 1142 is a reasonable and important step toward ensuring that trust. I respectfully urge the Committee to recommend HB 1142 as Ought to Pass. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Nicole Sczekan, MSN, CNM, FACNM

It is crucial that our local officers remain unmasked while assisting the federal 287(g) program.

The reckless, unethical and thug-like tactics of untrained ICE agents and NH officers assisting them will only deepen public distrust of law enforcement and the government as a whole.

I support this bill.

As a woman, I do NOT feel safe being approached or seeing any other person approached or physically handled by any masked person's. Women have been abducted and raped by posers. Honestly, if a masked person approaches me I will go into fight mode. You are putting citizens and officers in a dangerous situation. If I feel that my safety is in jeopardy and I can confirm who is approaching, I am going to shoot first and ask questions later as it is in written in stand your ground laws. You can not put people in these situations and not expect someone to get hurt. New Hampshire has many citizens who carry a gun legally for self protection. You put laws in place for me to protect myself, but then complicate it with how you run ICE.

We don't need any more anonymous masked thugs on our streets who are not accountable for their actions! (I would rather our local and state LEOs support and protect the residents of NH and not be involved in federal immigration procedures.)

I believe it is essential that the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights, Articles 1, 4, and 5, especially, be supported by reining in the decidedly unconstitutional abuses now being perpetrated by ICE and Border Patrol Agents, under the leadership of DHS. This Bill is an important first step in restoring the rule of law during this tumultuous and perilous time.

Local police have never worn masks even when arresting people suspected of homicide and other terrible crimes. They should not be masking when assisting ICE with immigration enforcement. Imnigration violations are a civil defense. It's the mission of our local police to build relatonships in our communities. Masked police destroy community trust and thus render police incapable of fulfilling their. primary mission. Please put at end to this horrendous practice.

What is happening with ICE is way out of control and is terrifying people. We must reform ICE and stop this frightening behavior. It has gone way beyond arresting the true criminals. Please protect our citizens .

No law enforcement or federal authorities located within NH should be allowed to hide behind a mask. This bill absolutely should pass, but additionally, it should be amended to include all federal officers operating within the state. When they can hide behind a mask, they are emboldened to break the law, misuse their power, and mistreat people.

I, Victoria Garcia, believe that people have the right to visibly see the federal ICE agents, and that their identities and actions should not remain anonymous, especially if anything should need to be addressed in the court of law

I am afraid of these masked men. They are the type of people that as a woman I automatically dread. I have three daughters, and they are the exact type of men I warn them away from. There are credible, verified accounts of men posing as ICE agents and sexually assaulting women; masks make it much easier for them to act with impunity. As a military spouse and strong supporter of the Constitution, I want more guardrails and expectations for law enforcement, not fewer. Being able to operate in secrecy enables ICE agents the ability to act as murderous thugs, as we have tragically seen. We expect unmasked faces, names, and badges for police forces; we should expect the exact same for ICE agents.

Transparency and accountability are vital to democracy.

There is no accountability with anonymity. The fact that this bill is only for those assisting ICE and not including ICE is awful. But yes, the identities of anyone who will bear witness to the atrocities of these small men and assist them must be made public. We must know who to trust. We must know who is safe. Any assistance to this terror must be documented. There will be no hiding in Argentina for this lot. Abolish ICE.

Uphold our Constitutional values: require any state, county, or local law enforcement officer to identify themselves by name, badge number, and agency, clearly state they are working under I.C.E. authority, and remain unmasked while doing so.

As a citizen of New Hampshire I am concerned that Constitutional rights are being violated. Specifically the 1st, and 4th amendment. Brazen acts of intimidation and violence are being perpetrated by masked men. The lack of transparency facilitated by anonymity of these individuals shields them from accountability. New Hampshire cannot tolerate such behavior.

This will help bring transparency to the ICE presence in our state and quell the concern of citizens who feel as though they are being threatened. If the actions are appropriate there should be no need for an agent to act surreptitiously.

I support HB1142 because transparency and accountability are essential to public trust in law enforcement.