New York Rep. Nydia Velazquez held a press conference outside an immigration court to advocate for passage of her bill to ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from wearing masks while making arrests.

Velazquez gathered with other Democrats and activists at the Federal Plaza Immigration Court to push for passage of the "No Masks For ICE" Act.

"Immigrant communities are terrified, bystanders often think they're witnessing a kidnapping," Velazquez said, according to ABC7 news.

ICE has said that masks are currently optional.