In the vibrant landscape of political theater, it’s always fascinating to watch as the plot thickens and the ideological players take the stage. Recently, the debate over immigration enforcement has taken a dramatic turn in Boston with Mayor Michelle Wu stepping into the spotlight. In a move that seems ripped straight from a sitcom rather than serious governance, the Mayor has chosen to question the use of masks by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in her city. It’s almost as if she believes they’re on a Halloween spree rather than, you know, keeping the streets safe from dangerous criminals.

Now, just to make it clear for those keeping score, these ICE agents are not sporting masks as a fashion statement or out of some secret desire to join an amateur theater troupe. They are wearing them for protection to avoid being doxxed or harassed by those who seem to confuse activism with a sport. The Democrats demand that these agents reveal their faces, conveniently ignoring the fact that these men and women are up against threats from criminal elements and, rather shockingly, those with political agendas that prioritize ideology over safety.

This whole mask debacle is happening in a so-called “sanctuary state,” where Boston’s streets are supposed to be safe havens. Oddly enough, they’re rendered a little less safe by the very practices that are meant to protect lawbreakers from facing the full force of U.S. law. Without assistance from Massachusetts itself, ICE’s recent Operation Patriot removed over 1,000 criminals from Boston, including some particularly nasty offenders. One wonders if Mayor Wu would feel comfortable with a child predator or drug trafficker living next door. Apparently, these aren’t issues for ICE, who are busy dodging political volleys while slapping cuffs on bad guys.

The situation begs the question of common sense in politics. Law enforcement officers don’t parade through city halls demanding politicians remove campaign posters or stop misusing city funds, so why must they defend their necessary methods of operation? This theatrical grandstanding does nothing for those who sleep better at night thanks to ICE and its agents and only serves to embolden those who break the law.

ICE agents, unlike those politicking against them, are working to preserve the peace and safety that many take for granted. Their work isn’t just heroic; it’s essential. Yet here they are, embroiled in a bizarre debate over facial coverings while engaged in high-stakes operations protecting regular families. Political competitors playing these safety issues for personal gain should expect a resounding electoral backlash. There’s a time for discourse, and there’s a time for gratitude towards those keeping the peace. Perhaps next election season, voters will express that gratitude clearly at the ballot box, sans the masks of political correctness.