Removing the ICE mask

(Editor’s note: The following letter was sent to Durango Mayor Gilda Yazzie regarding calls to ban  ICE agents from wearing masks and requiring them to wear nametags. The letter has been edited for clarity and length.)

Ms. Yazzie,

In the emergency community meeting on ICE, you were quoted as saying “The City of Durango remains committed to transparency.”

You and the City Council spoke a lot of promising compassionate words with no follow-up action. I was there and specifically heard that something will be done about ICE wearing masks and with no known identity. You also recommended filing complaints against ICE when it continues to overstep any boundary, and we yelled out “How can we? We can’t see their faces, and they have no identification.”

Again, you, City Council and the police chief were just blowing smoke and insulting our intelligence. We aren’t children. It’s common sense! It comes down to you and your colleagues taking your promise to frightened people seriously and being held accountable. 

California made it illegal for ICE to conceal their faces. What happened to what you said? We have the right to demand transparency and identification so we don’t look uneducated and stupid when we are asked, “Why didn’t you file a complaint?”

For what? 

I haven’t heard any update to your promises, but I also don’t see any changes. It’s not rocket science. It can be done, and it’s been months!

I will not let this go. Nothing has come through for the community except cowardice by those who are supposed to be the community’s allies are expected to follow through and not lie to us.  

There will be more protests, and if you can’t answer in truthfully and prove you are doing this work, you directly will be what future protests will be about.

It’s disgusting and shameful that months later nothing has changed.

I look forward to your reply. Of course you are very busy, however nothing should be more important than the promises made to Durango residents. Others have done this, why haven’t you?

– Nancy-Raffaele-Ilic, Durango