(DCNF)—Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna appeared on Fox News Tuesday to call out Democrats who use U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as an excuse to “race bait.”
Luna, on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” said the majority of ICE agents are Hispanic.
Democrats have pushed back against ICE agents, who have conducted raids and detained illegal migrants nationwide. A handful of lawmakers and officials were arrested and charged for allegedly retaliating. Democrats now want to ban federal agents from wearing masks. Watters, referring to COVID-19 mask mandates, told Luna how Democrats now want masks off “for the first time in six years.”
“Yes, exactly to your point. These are the same Democrat politicians that force people to wear masks, otherwise they couldn’t see their loved ones passing away in hospitals or getting married. I think it’s completely hypocritical,” Luna said. “But, look, the same Democrat politicians that are trying to say that ICE is all Anglo-Americans, they’re completely false.”
On Tuesday, Democrat California State Sen. Scott Wiener introduced legislation seeking to ban law enforcement from covering their faces when working in public, along with requiring them to wear identifying information. The push from Democrats to crack down on agents comes as the Trump administration has ramped up ICE raids in sanctuary cities throughout the United States.
In footage from some of the arrests, agents can be seen wearing masks. This, after border czar Tom Homan said assaults and doxing against these federal employees are ramping up.
“ICE is actually predominantly 50% Hispanic,” Luna said. “So, really, what they’re doing is they’re using these policies to race-bait Americans into thinking that this is somehow Hispanic versus white when, in actuality, it’s not. Hispanic Americans support these policies as well, and they’re trying to effectively dox Hispanic ICE workers and Border Patrol agents, which is completely unacceptable.”
According to 2023 fiscal year data, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employs 199,635 people. ICE operates under DHS. Of the total DHS workforce, 51.7% are white, with Hispanics making up the largest minority at 22.8%, and Black employees account for 16.7%. When combining all minorities employed by DHS, the total sits at 48.3%.
Data from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shows that of the estimated 20,337 border patrol agents, 50.9% are Hispanic while 43.9% are white.
While data does not break down ICE employee demographics by race, the agency has 22,007 full-time employees, according to DHS’ 2024 fiscal year budget overview.
ICE did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.