ICE head won't block agents from wearing masks, confirms use of Medicaid data

Source: Yahoo! News/CBS News

Fri, July 18, 2025 at 8:29 PM EDT


Washington — In an exclusive interview, Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told CBS News he's not a "proponent" of agents wearing masks during arrest operations, but said he will allow the practice to continue due to concerns about his officers' safety.

He also confirmed ICE plans to use data from government programs like Medicaid to locate immigrants suspected of living in the U.S. illegally, including those with criminal histories.

Pressed on concerns about masked ICE officers and the possibility that imposters could exploit the practice by posing as immigration agents, Lyons said, "That's one of our biggest concerns. And I've said it publicly before, I'm not a proponent of the masks."

"However, if that's a tool that the men and women of ICE to keep themselves and their family safe, then I will allow it," Lyons said during his first television network sit-down interview at ICE headquarters in Washington. "I do kind of push back on the criticism that they don't identify themselves." Asked if he will allow ICE personnel to wear masks, Lyons said, "I will."

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/ice-head-wont-block-agents-214705555.html