Democrats are expanding laws that require immigration agents to be identifiable in public, even amid rising threats against them.
New Jersey’s Corey Booker and California’s Alex Padilla are championing a proposal that, if enacted, would restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other federal officials from wearing masks during most enforcement operations. This push comes just days after armed individuals reportedly coordinated assaults on ICE facilities.
“For weeks, we’ve witnessed federal agents operating without visible identification, detaining individuals on streets and creating a climate of fear across the nation,” Booker remarked in a press release about the legislation, dubbed the “VISIBLE Act.”
He added that the “VISIBLE Act” is an essential move grounded in law enforcement best practices, mandating that immigration agents reveal their names, badge numbers, and agency during operations.
So far, neither Padilla’s nor Booker’s offices provided comments when reached for clarification.
This legislation aligns with a trend among Democrats nationwide looking to ensure ICE agents remain unmasked during their enforcement activities.
In June, New York Democrats Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat introduced a bill named the “Secret Police Act,” which seeks to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from allowing ICE agents to wear makeshift masks. Recently, New York representative Nydia Velazquez also rolled out a proposal to ban anonymity for immigration enforcement.
Similar measures are being suggested by Democrats at the state level, despite ongoing debates about whether state laws can legitimately dictate federal enforcement strategies.
California Senator Scott Wiener, known for his previous reforms related to HIV communication penalties, introduced a version of the “Secret Police Act” in June that prohibits law enforcement from donning masks during enforcement actions across all levels in California. Subsequently, similar legislation was proposed in states like Tennessee and Massachusetts.
Democrats argue that masked agents foster fear and uncertainty in communities. However, ICE has rebuffed these mask restrictions, arguing that such practices help protect officers and their families from potential threats.
“Every day, ICE agents risk their lives to uphold public safety and national security by apprehending gang members, foreign fugitives, and other dangerous criminals operating illegally,” an ICE spokesperson shared. “While agents wear badges that visibly denote their law enforcement status, they may choose to wear masks to avoid becoming targets of sophisticated threats.”
ICE indicated a significant rise in attacks against its agents, noting an increase of nearly 700%. They link this surge to the current vilification of the agency.
In recent months, several threats against ICE officials have emerged. For instance, a Texas man was arrested in April for allegedly plotting to shoot an ICE agent who lived in his neighborhood and referred to them as “secret police” on social media.
A similar situation occurred in New York, where a man was arrested for online threats against an ICE agent, declaring the agency a “New Age Gestapo.”
The risk became more tangible when around 12 assailants ambushed an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, resulting in one local officer being shot in the head during the incident on July 4th. Authorities have charged at least 10 individuals linked to this organized attack.
This surge in violence is alarming, and those responsible will face legal consequences, according to ICE Director Todd Lyons. He emphasized that such acts are a direct outcome of harmful misinformation and politically charged rhetoric.
