Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Waters on Wednesday announced she is pushing an ordinance that would prohibit local, state, and federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks or other facial coverings to conceal their identities while performing their duties in Detroit.
Waters dubbed the proposal the “Alex Pretti Detroit No Masks Ordinance,” saying it is intended to prevent officers from enforcing the law “with impunity” while their faces are hidden. Alex Pretti was fatally shot by two federal agents in Minneapolis after getting tackled to the ground for video-recording immigration enforcement on Jan. 24
“We will not have a Detroit where a masked mob is afforded the opportunity to enforce the law with impunity. We want to see the faces of law enforcement in Detroit,” Waters said in a statement.
She added, “The least we can do is honor the memory of an American Hero, Alex Pretti, murdered in Minneapolis, Minnesota by a masked mob.”
Under the proposed ordinance, “No local, state or federal law enforcement personnel shall be permitted to wear masks or other facial coverings to conceal their identity while performing their duties in the City of Detroit,” according to the release. The purpose is to “enable the identification of individuals engaging in law enforcement activities within the City of Detroit.” Penalties would be determined by the city law department.
The proposal comes amid growing national backlash over federal immigration agents wearing masks during enforcement actions, a practice critics say makes it difficult for the public to verify who is conducting arrests and to hold officers accountable.
Detroit would not be the first city to ban law enforcement from wearing masks.
Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors recently approved an ordinance requiring law enforcement officers to show their faces and display identifying information while performing duties in the county’s unincorporated areas. Philadelphia lawmakers have also unveiled legislation aimed at barring federal immigration agents from wearing masks in public.
In Denver, city council members proposed an ordinance that would prohibit officers from concealing their identities while interrogating, detaining, or arresting people. A similar proposal has been introduced in Jackson County, Missouri.
So far, there is little evidence that local mask bans have meaningfully stopped federal immigration officers from covering their faces.
In Los Angeles County, officials have acknowledged that enforcement against federal agents remains unclear, with county prosecutors saying they would only pursue cases referred by law enforcement agencies themselves. Legal experts have repeatedly warned that local and state efforts to regulate federal officers may run into constitutional challenges under the Supremacy Clause.
As a result, ICE agents have continued to wear masks in many jurisdictions despite local restrictions or proposed bans. That has allowed agents to act with impunity, making it difficult for the public to identify officers, verify their authority, or seek accountability when misconduct is alleged.
Waters’ ordinance must be approved by the Detroit City Council before it can take effect. If adopted, the city law department would determine how violations are enforced.