SYLVIA ORTIZ-VELEZ: We need to pursue all legal legislative avenues to resist coordinated efforts from our federal government that violate the rights of Wisconsinites.

There's real concerns that this could cause ICE having masks on.

It could cause unnecessary public safety issues and I'm concerned about from our cities to our rural parts of our state.

The reason I'm concerned for our public safety, and certainly I'm not trying to stop anyone from doing their job, but I want people to be safe.

My concern is for everyone involved, for the bystanders, for the family and for the agents.

You know, we all know by now that the vast majority of people being detained are not criminals.

We know that they are our essential workers that put food on our tables, that they are people that keep the meat factories going, and they build our homes, and they're our neighbors and they're our friends.

We also know that we have citizens that are having their rights being violated constitutionally in this process, and really, it's not about refusing to cooperate.

I think the concern is being complicit and inhumane, and unlawful actions from the federal government.

And when it comes to having law enforcement that have masks on, certainly we have laws in our state that protect law enforcement.

I certainly support that.

Are no other law enforcement in our state that actually wear masks.

It's not normal.

As a matter of fact, it's very routine to ask for identity from law enforcement, and I don't think it's safe.

And in particular, when we think about the vulnerability of people in our state to human trafficking, this is a very huge concern of mine.

Three of the largest human trafficking corridors run through my district, District 8, which is Lincoln, Greenfield, National.

So certainly, it is on my mind.

Unfortunately, people go missing all the time in my neighborhood, and I don't wanna give the criminals more cover to kidnap and hurt more people.

And I don't wanna give cover to the human traffickers to hurt more people.

And by having people wear masks, it puts a lot of people in danger.

It's a public safety issue, quite frankly.

And especially, in fact, due to the unlawful practices of the federal government, I think it's imperative that we know who is coming into our state from outside Wisconsin.

PATRICIA GÓMEZ: Definitely.

Could this bill conflict with undercover or SWAT team protocols?

SYLVIA ORTIZ-VELEZ: No.

No, it would not.

PATRICIA GÓMEZ: Is a class D felony penalty sufficient to deter a non-compliance?

SYLVIA ORTIZ-VELEZ: I believe it is because the fine amount is what we're looking at.

We've excluded the criminal penalties under this bill.

So the only thing applies is the fine amount, which goes up to $10,000.

So it's pretty substantial, a fine amount they could face.

PATRICIA GÓMEZ: Who is expected that we'll detain these authorities who are masked and with no IDs?

Who are the forces who are going to be calling to the attention and detaining?

SYLVIA ORTIZ-VELEZ: That's a very good question.

It comes down to who has the authority, and so, if this law passed our state, it would be a state law, and our state would have the authority to perform any action they need to uphold this law.

So it would be our police // the one who will be detaining?

It would be police or sheriff, anybody who would have the police powers under our state's authorities.

PATRICIA GÓMEZ: Why is this legislation necessary for accountability and transparency?

SYLVIA ORTIZ-VELEZ: It's very important, especially nowadays, to know who's coming in from out of our state, from outside of Wisconsin.

You know, not only knowing who these people really are, but also knowing what's really going on because people can say they're doing things under the guise of immigration enforcement and possibly try to violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which is actual direct policing, which they're not allowed to do.

So it's important to know if there's a crime possibly being violated, who is committing those crimes, as well.

That's very important.

PATRICIA GÓMEZ: How would you respond to concerns that this bill could expose officers to personal risk?

I know that you have mentioned that, but responses that we have heard in general are that these ICE officers are protecting themselves from the attacks of the people.

SYLVIA ORTIZ-VELEZ: Again, we have laws in our state that protect law enforcement and I'm certainly supportive of that.

I'm also certainly supportive of anything to protect law enforcement in our state, but no other law enforcement in our state actually wear face masks.

So actually, it's actually a very strange thing.

PATRICIA GÓMEZ: What did you see in the future of this law project?

SYLVIA ORTIZ-VELEZ: I'm gonna continue to have conversations with people about all of our inalienable rights, and I think it's important for people in those conversations to understand the real issue here is public safety.

And it's not safe for anyone, for any law enforcement in our state to have a mask on and not know who they are, especially if there could be a possible violation of law.

PATRICIA GÓMEZ: Laws like this one working already in other states?

SYLVIA ORTIZ-VELEZ: From what I know, it's only been passed in California, and that's just recently.

So we haven't had enough time to see how reactions in society right now.

PATRICIA GÓMEZ: What is the timing for this law project on this bill?

SYLVIA ORTIZ-VELEZ: Well, the bill's been circulated, sent to committee.

It's up to the committee chair if they call it to a hearing.