Opinion column: The real meaning of those ICE masks, as blurted out in a WA hearing

[cbabe]

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/northwest/the-real-meaning-of-those-ice-masks-as-blurted-out-in-a-wa-hearing/article_c8e8205b-95f2-5102-a048-cb8155949059.html

Opinion column: The real meaning of those ICE masks, as blurted out in a WA hearing

Danny Westneat from The Seattle Times Jan 28, 2026

Whatever one might feel about bombastic Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank, he is one of the few elected officials around liberal Puget Sound who embodies the true spirit of MAGA.

…

“I don’t recognize your authority.”

That’s the real significance of the masks. They say: We aren’t beholden to you. Not to state officials, the public, or the basic workings of democracy. You can’t touch us. You don’t even know who we are.

You could hear this imperiousness in the statements put out by administration officials after the shooting last weekend in Minneapolis. In their telling, the victim Alex Pretti was an “assassin” bent on the murder or even “massacre” of federal law enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said this, as did the president’s Homeland Security advisor, Stephen Miller. The latter’s series of false tweets are outrageously still up on social media, continuing to smear the deceased.

There’s a direct through line from identity-concealing masks to such reality-inverting lies. They come from the same accountability-denying place. It’s no coincidence that days after the Minneapolis shooting, the public still had no idea who the federal agents are. Mask the agents, mask any public information, mask the truth.

… WA senate passed no mask law … more …

[bucolic_frolic]

1. In history, executioners always wore masks. Masks are a dehumanization tool.

[dalton99a]

3. +1. Among notable exceptions:

[Sequoia]

5. One of my favorite

I must read that book again.

[TexLaProgressive]

10. Actors are loathed to cover their faces

[riversedge]

2. Wrote a Ronald Reagan-appointed judge///: "ICE goes masked for a single reason -- to terrorize Americans into.....

Wrote a Ronald Reagan-appointed judge last year in a different case: “ICE goes masked for a single reason -- to terrorize Americans into quiescence."

"It should be noted that our troops do not ordinarily wear masks. Can you imagine a masked Marine?”

www.yakimaherald.com/news/northwe...

Wrote a Ronald Reagan-appointed judge last year in a different case: “ICE goes masked for a single reason -- to terrorize Americans into quiescence."

"It should be noted that our troops do not ordinarily wear masks. Can you imagine a masked Marine?”

www.yakimaherald.com/news/northwe...

— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-01-29T15:32:51.317Z

[hadEnuf]

4. Then by common logic, they have no authority either,

Any piece of garbage can put "Federal Agent" on his surplus store armor.

Although not advised in the least, people could open fire on these anonymous terrorists. But you can be certain it won't be a don't tread on me, NRA, MAGAT who would do it.

The NRA have been phonies from the start.

[SSJVegeta]

6. Most are bginning to wear gas masks

They are becoming hard to differentiate from the star wars storm troopers (roughly based on the actual nazi storm troopers themselves -where the name derived)

[Pharlo]

7. My theory is they wear masks

because they feel naked without their hoods.

[70sEraVet]

8. US troops don't wear masks because they are serving THEIR COUNTRY!

ICE thugs wear masks because they are serving ONE MAN. And they know that man won't be in power forever.

[littlemissmartypants]

9. Excellent point! ❤️

[70sEraVet]

13. Thanks!

I'm anxious to try that out on some of the MAGA veterans around my area.

[punguin54]

20. Exactly 💯

[jimmy the one]

11. Real meaning is they are the GICE--STAPO

Gestapo in nazi Germany meant secret state police
Geheime means secret - Ge
Stadt means state - Sta
Polizei is police of course - Po

GICEstapo is trumps version of the nazi Gestapo where GICE means thugs.

[MLWR]

15. Not quite.

Sta stands for Staats , meaning state. Stadt means city.

[progressoid]

12. Damn good op ed.

[MLWR]

14. Krusty Gnome and S. Miller had better have evidence for saying

" the victim Alex Pretti was an “assassin” bent on the murder or even “massacre” of federal law enforcement. ("Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said this, as did the president’s Homeland Security advisor, Stephen Miller.&quot I sincerely hope Mr. Pretti's family sues them both for slander and unlawful death.

[Beartracks]

23. Their evidence is that they said it.

===========

[Joinfortmill]

16. Trump and his regime are FASCIST SCUM.

[gfarber]

17. ICE Masks

There once was a sheriff named Swank,
In Puget Sound known for his crank,
With MAGA in soul
And a sheriff’s bold role,
He drew eyes wherever he’d plank.

When masks hide the faces we see,
They whisper “no one rules over me.”
No state’s law, public will,
No democracy’s drill —
Just shadows that claim to be free.

Behind screens and official press line,
They called Alex Pretti malign,
A nurse made a threat,
So the story was set
To justify shots fired inline.

Yet truth on the street told a different song,
Of phones held and crowds not so strong,
Disputing the claim
Of a murderous aim,
With videos that proved official wrong.

When masks blur the agents who stand,
There’s no face, no name on the land,
No public account,
No truth to recount —
Just power with no reprimand.

From masks to the revisionist tale,
Accountability seems to fail,
Shielded by guise,
Fed spin that belies
The pain of a life gone stale.

[niyad]

18. Thank you for this.

[senseandsensibility]

19. Phillip Bump posted on bluesky today that he has researched it and found that

there are no documented instances of ICE being attacked after being "doxed".

[LA Blue Bengal]

21. Sounds like

a spoiled defiant child. A sixty-day suspension without pay might make him reconsider his position. I wonder if anyone in that county has the stones to do it?

[cbabe]

22. Yes. 'You're not the boss of me' says spoiled kid.

[Wounded Bear]

24. One of those Sovereign Citizen assholes....nt

[RetiredParatrooper]

25. Q: What's the difference between ICE and the Gestapo?

The Gestapo didn't wear masks.

To be fair, they also had better uniforms and spoke German, but maybe they'll get there.