A Democratic state representative is vowing to keep fighting after Republicans used a procedural move to block her proposal that would have required Arizona law enforcement agencies to have written policies limiting the routine use of masks.
Representative Mariana Sandoval (D-AZ) introduced the amendment amid growing national scrutiny over masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducting operations in communities across the country. While her proposal would not have applied to federal agents, she wanted to prevent the practice from spreading to state and local police.
Her amendment targeted House Bill 2862, sponsored by Representative Quang Nguyen (R-AZ). That bill would make it a crime to wear a mask to hide your identity at certain gatherings and would allow stiffer penalties for anyone who commits an offense while masked with the intent to conceal their identity.
Rep. Sandoval's proposal pushed in the opposite direction, but only for law enforcement. It would have required Arizona police agencies to adopt written policies limiting when officers can wear masks during routine duties, ensuring they remain identifiable and that their badges stay visible. Exceptions for safety reasons would have been allowed.
Sandoval said she had been building support for the measure before it ever reached the floor.
"We were out here at a press conference with Rural Arizona and other local community organizations, talking about my amendment to Representative Nguyen's bill to make sure that ICE agents are not masked, or any law enforcement agent in Arizona," she said.
Didn't Go As Planned
The effort was derailed before a full debate could take place.
Sandoval explained that Republican lawmakers submitted a counter-amendment at the last minute, effectively replacing her language. "They submitted a sub-amendment to my amendment so that they could defeat it," she said.
For Sandoval, the stakes go beyond procedure. "We don't want them to continue to come after our communities and scare and attack and harass," she said. "If they're out here using law enforcement to detain and kidnap people on the street, we need to know who they are and we need to be able to see their badges."
The amendment was ultimately rejected on a party-line vote after Republicans on the floor voted down her attempt to overturn the procedural maneuver.
Federal officials have argued that masking is necessary to protect officers from having their personal information made public. Critics, however, contend that anonymity has enabled abusive behavior, pointing to videos showing masked federal officers in confrontations with civilians, including U.S. citizens.
Sandoval said the fight is not over. "We're going to continue to fight, we're going to continue to advocate, and we're asking folks to continue to show up with us to continue fighting for transparency for all Arizonans," she vowed.
