House Speaker Mike Johnson, left, reacted Friday to recent comments from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' about ICE agents wearing masks. (Getty Images)
Johnson was then asked Friday "so you're okay with these agents sort of not identifying themselves when they're arresting migrants?"
"Why? So that they can target them?" he responded. "So they can put their names and faces online and dox them? That's what these activists do. So we have to protect those who protect our communities.
"And it's absurd for anybody, members of Congress or any other elected leader, to be calling out ICE for trying to do their job. They've made it difficult for them to do it for years, and I just think it's patently absurd," Johnson also said.
At his weekly press conference Friday, Fox News asked Jeffries if he was concerned that possibly demasking some ICE agents puts them or their families’ safety at risk.
"It seems to me that the officials at the Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, should be held to the same standards as every other part of law enforcement in terms of transparency," the Democrat from New York said.
HOMELAND SECURITY SAYS BOSTON’S MAYOR COMPARING ICE AGENTS TO NEO-NAZIS IS ‘SICKENING’
ICE officers are seen making an arrest in Lynn, Mass., last month. (ICE )
"We urge you to direct ICE officers and agents to promptly and clearly identify themselves as law enforcement officers conducting law enforcement actions when arresting subjects, and limit the use of face coverings during arrests and other enforcement actions to avoid intimidation and reduce safety risks to the public," the Senators added.
In August 2021, Kaine pushed mask wearing as well, writing in a Facebook post that he was "Deeply concerned about the rapid rise of COVID-19 delta variant infections we are seeing across the Commonwealth" and that "We should do all we can to help stop the spread of the virus and keep ourselves and our loved ones safe, including following CDC guidance such as getting vaccinated, masking up indoors, and social distancing."
"Folks, let’s continue to protect ourselves by getting vaccinated, masking up, and social distancing so we can safely return to all of the activities we love," Warner added at the time.
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Representatives for Jeffries, Kaine and Warner did not immediately respond Friday to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
Fox News’ Chad Pergram, Tyler Olson and Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-speaker-johnson-dems-who-want-ice-agents-unmasked-mandated-mask-wearing-years-during-covid