Longtime television personality Geraldo Rivera is facing sharp criticism after questioning why U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wear masks during enforcement actions, a practice widely used across federal law enforcement agencies for officer safety.

Let’s deport Geraldo Rivera too ,for asking idiotic questions about ICE agents lol 😆 😂. pic.twitter.com/wHzhHAkbVO

— marinamillern (@marinamillern) July 9, 2025

On Monday night, Rivera posted on X: “Cops do not wear masks. They deal with the most dangerous elements in society. Why do ICE agents wear masks? What are they hiding?”

He followed up shortly after with a second post stating: “Judges don’t wear masks. Sheriffs don’t wear masks. Marshals don’t wear masks. FBI agents don’t wear masks. Court officers don’t wear masks. Cops don’t wear masks. Only ICE agents.”

How have you not comprehended that these officers are being doxxed and threatened by radical left open border Marxists?

— Rob Schmitt (@SchmittNYC) July 9, 2025

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The remarks drew immediate backlash online, with responses from law enforcement veterans, public officials, and users critical of Rivera’s understanding of federal enforcement protocols.

“You know nothing about law enforcement families and their risks,” one user responded.

Another user, identifying as a former law enforcement officer from the Dallas area with nearly 30 years of service, wrote, “I like you, but just like with Al Capone’s vault, you embarrass yourself here.”

Critics quickly pointed out that Rivera’s comments failed to consider longstanding law enforcement practices.

Tactical teams from agencies such as the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have routinely used face coverings and other protective gear, especially during high-risk or covert operations.

“Judges don’t, sure. Sheriff’s tactical teams do, FBI and ATF has since the 1980s,” another user wrote, referencing the 1993 Waco siege. “It’s easy to look this stuff up.”

While some responses attempted to explain federal policy, others were more direct.

“And you know this,” one user posted. “So f**k off.”

Geraldo, are you for real? https://t.co/KRrRzORued

— CheckMarkPrime (@PrimeCheckMark) July 9, 2025

The use of masks by ICE agents has been a point of contention in recent years, particularly in large urban areas.

Agents operating in cities such as Los Angeles and Hartford have conducted enforcement actions in unmarked vehicles while wearing face coverings and plain clothes, drawing criticism from immigration activists and Democratic lawmakers who claim the tactic reduces accountability and transparency.

ICE officials have consistently defended the practice. During a press briefing in June, ICE official Matthew Lyons addressed concerns directly.

“We ran an operation where ICE officers were doxed,” Lyons said.

“People are out there taking photos of the names and their faces and posting them online with death threats to their family and themselves, so I’m sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks but I’m not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line and their family on the line because people don’t like what immigration enforcement is.”

Why do @ICEgov agents wear masks?

ICE Director Todd Lyons emotional…saying his agents are being doxxed, harassed, and sent death threats.

People even threatening the agents children. pic.twitter.com/8zXvZp4QIn

— Alexis McAdams (@AlexisMcAdamsTV) June 2, 2025

According to the Department of Homeland Security, there is no federal law prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks during enforcement activity.

Federal guidance requires agents to identify themselves “as soon as it is practical and safe,” but there is no requirement that they reveal their faces.

Despite that, some lawmakers are pursuing measures to limit the use of face coverings.

In California, Democrats have introduced state legislation that would ban non-medical face coverings during law enforcement operations and require officers to clearly display their name and badge number.

At the federal level, Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) have introduced the VISIBLE Act, which proposes similar restrictions except in covert operations or when protective gear such as gas masks is necessary.

Critics argue that such legislative efforts are politically motivated and do not reflect the operational realities faced by ICE personnel.

“The people who complain about ICE masks never say a word about Antifa rioters doing the same thing,” one user posted.

“They’re not worried about transparency. They’re just anti-enforcement.”

Rivera has not responded further to the criticism. ICE and DHS have not indicated any policy changes in response to the public discussion.