Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) appeared on Fox News Tuesday to criticize Democrat lawmakers for using U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as part of what she described as efforts to “race bait” the American public.
Speaking with Jesse Watters on Jesse Watters Primetime, Luna pushed back on a narrative that frames ICE agents as predominantly white and accused Democrats of targeting federal law enforcement for political purposes.
“These are the same Democrat politicians that force people to wear masks, otherwise they couldn’t see their loved ones passing away in hospitals or getting married. I think it’s completely hypocritical,” Luna said during the segment.
“But, look, the same Democrat politicians that are trying to say that ICE is all Anglo-Americans, they’re completely false.”
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Her comments came in response to a proposal introduced Tuesday by California State Senator Scott Wiener (D), which seeks to ban law enforcement officers from covering their faces while working in public.
The legislation also includes requirements for officers to wear identifying information during operations.
The proposal follows increased ICE operations in sanctuary cities across the United States under the Trump administration.
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In recent months, agents conducting arrests have been seen wearing masks, a move ICE officials have defended as necessary for officer safety amid a rise in doxing attempts and physical threats.
Border Czar Tom Homan, now referred to as the Border Czar under President Donald Trump, recently warned of a spike in assaults and doxing incidents targeting federal immigration officers.
The proposed mask ban has been met with concern by law enforcement advocates who argue that unmasking agents could compromise their personal security.
Luna emphasized the racial diversity within ICE and Border Patrol ranks, pointing out that many of the agents being targeted by the left are Hispanic.
“ICE is actually predominantly 50% Hispanic,” Luna said.
“So, really, what they’re doing is they’re using these policies to race-bait Americans into thinking that this is somehow Hispanic versus white when, in actuality, it’s not. Hispanic Americans support these policies as well, and they’re trying to effectively dox Hispanic ICE workers and Border Patrol agents, which is completely unacceptable.”
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 50.9% of the approximately 20,337 Border Patrol agents are Hispanic, while 43.9% are white.
Though specific ICE demographic breakdowns are not provided publicly, ICE currently employs 22,007 full-time workers, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s fiscal year 2024 budget overview.
Data from the DHS shows that of its total workforce of approximately 199,635 employees as of the 2023 fiscal year, 51.7% are white, with Hispanics representing 22.8% and Black employees accounting for 16.7%.
Minority employees overall make up 48.3% of DHS personnel.
Luna’s comments on Fox News align with growing concern among Republicans that federal agents are being politicized and unfairly targeted.
The issue of facial coverings has become symbolic of deeper partisan divides on immigration policy and law enforcement oversight.
The legislation introduced by Sen. Wiener is expected to face resistance from Republican lawmakers and law enforcement unions, who argue that identifying federal agents in public could lead to increased security risks for officers and their families.
As ICE operations continue in major sanctuary jurisdictions, the political battle over the role, protection, and perception of immigration enforcement agents remains central to broader national debates on border security and public safety.
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