Pursuing the Faces Behind the Masks
Another FOIA request, sent on April 1, sought any policies or directives about ICE agents wearing face or head coverings during immigration enforcement since January 20. This line of inquiry comes amid public concern over increasing opacity during immigration raids.
The final pair of FOIA requests — submitted to both ICE and DHS on May 22 — asked for communications containing the names “Stephen Miller,” “Tom Homan,” or “America First Legal,” which the nonprofit labeled a “far-right group” co-founded by Miller.
Despite acknowledgments from DHS and ICE that delays could occur, Democracy Forward said neither agency followed up, pushing the group to take legal action.
“Secrecy Without Accountability”
“This is not just red tape — it’s a blackout,” said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward. “The American people deserve transparency about how their government is wielding power, especially when it’s tied to extreme political agendas operating from the shadows.”
Perryman’s statement criticized DHS and ICE for “carrying out public actions with public dollars while operating in secrecy,” suggesting that public trust is eroded when policy decisions are shielded from oversight.
