GOP Rep. Gimenez: Some ICE Agents Need Masks, Not All

Congressman says masking policies should be based on specific job duties, not a blanket requirement

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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In an interview on CNN's 'Situation Room,' Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) argued that while some ICE agents may need to wear masks during certain operations, a blanket requirement for all agents to be masked is unnecessary. Gimenez, a former sheriff, said that masking policies should be based on the specific job duties of individual agents rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Why it matters

The debate over masking requirements for federal law enforcement agents has become a political flashpoint, with some calling for universal masking and others arguing that it should be left to the discretion of agency leadership based on operational needs. Gimenez's comments reflect the Republican position that masking policies should be flexible and tailored, rather than imposed across the board.

The details

Gimenez, who previously served as the sheriff of Miami-Dade County, said that during SWAT operations, some officers would wear masks to protect their identities, especially if they were undercover. However, he argued that not all ICE agents need to be masked, and that the decision should depend on their specific job duties. Gimenez criticized the idea of shutting down government agencies over masking policies, saying it 'only hurts the innocent' federal workers who would be forced to work without pay.

  • The interview with Rep. Gimenez aired on CNN's 'Situation Room' on Monday, February 17, 2026.

The players

Rep. Carlos Gimenez

A Republican Congressman from Florida who previously served as the sheriff of Miami-Dade County.

CNN's 'Situation Room'

A news and interview program on the CNN television network.

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What they’re saying

“Do they all have to be masked? I can agree that, no, not all of them have to be masked. It all depends on what their particular assignment is. Some need to be masked. Some don't need to be masked.”

— Rep. Carlos Gimenez (CNN's 'Situation Room)

“This whole thing about shutting the government down doesn't make any sense to me. It only hurts the innocent, which is really the people that are doing the job. And, at the end, we open it up anyway, okay, and, usually, things don't change that much.”

— Rep. Carlos Gimenez (CNN's 'Situation Room)

What’s next

The debate over masking requirements for federal law enforcement is likely to continue, with both sides arguing their positions in Congress and the media.

The takeaway

Congressman Gimenez's comments reflect the Republican view that masking policies for federal agents should be flexible and based on operational needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all mandate. This debate highlights the ongoing political tensions around COVID-19 precautions and their impact on government operations.