The US Secretary of Homeland Security, Nomm, defended the practice of requiring individuals under investigation to provide “identification” during missions carried out by federal law enforcement officers on Thursday, January 15th.
According to a report by Newsmax news website, Secretary Nomm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was questioned by reporters outside the White House: “Why are we seeing Americans in Minnesota being asked to provide proof of citizenship on the streets? Is this targeted law enforcement? Do you recommend that Americans carry proof of citizenship with them?”
In response, Nomm stated: “In every situation, we are conducting targeted enforcement. If we are tracking a target, there may be other individuals around that criminal, and we may ask them who they are, why they are there, and have them prove their identity.”
She further stated that if law enforcement officers believe someone is violating the law, the suspect will be detained “until we complete the relevant procedures.”
Against the backdrop of recent opposition and protests over the Trump administration’s efforts to strengthen actions against illegal immigration, in recent weeks, multiple American citizens in Minneapolis and the surrounding areas have reported being stopped by federal law enforcement officers and asked to show identification.
Trump signed an executive order in January last year requiring immigrants to carry legal identification. Although the relevant laws have been in place for decades, they have not always been widely enforced in practice.