ICE Agents' Mask Culture Shift Risks Street Violence: Obama ICE Chief

Newsweek

09-06-2025

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A former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is warning that a growing trend of federal officers wearing masks during arrests is potentially dangerous to bystanders, communities, and even the agents themselves.
John Sandweg, who served as acting director of ICE under former President Barack Obama, from August 2013 to February 2014, told Newsweek on Friday that what was once a rare precaution has become a widespread practice that carries serious risks.
Sandweg expressed concerns over the shift in tactics that has become increasingly common in immigration enforcement operations.
He argued that masks create confusion and fear, especially in public settings.
"If you're getting arrested by an officer or agent in a mask, especially if at that point they've not yet identified themselves as a federal officer, it creates a risk of bystanders thinking, rushing in to help, which could create the risk of violence or harm caused to the bystanders," Sandweg explained.
John Sandweg, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, speaks during a news conference on counterfeit merchandise at the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII media center, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in New York.
John Sandweg, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, speaks during a news conference on counterfeit merchandise at the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII media center, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in New York.
AP
"People are trying to be good Samaritans because they think it's a kidnapping or something of that nature. You could have local police who have not been right into the operation thinking something is happening, like an abduction is happening.
The Trump administration has defended the use of masks, citing a sharp rise in threats and violence against ICE agents. According to the Department of Homeland Security, assaults on immigration officers have surged by 413 percent, prompting officials to argue that masks are a necessary measure to protect agents' identities, as well as their families.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions in Los Angeles, a sanctuary city, between federal immigration authorities and local officials over how immigration laws are enforced, the safety of communities, and the role of sanctuary policies. As ICE officers carried out an increasing number of arrests under federal orders, they are facing increasing resistance from protesters and immigrant rights supporters, fueling tense standoffs and public backlash.
A demonstrator holds placards as protesters clash with law enforcement in the streets surrounding the federal building during a protest following federal immigration operations in Los Angeles, California, on June 8, 2025.
A demonstrator holds placards as protesters clash with law enforcement in the streets surrounding the federal building during a protest following federal immigration operations in Los Angeles, California, on June 8, 2025.
RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images
Sandweg, speaking before mass protests erupted in Los Angeles over alleged aggressive immigration enforcement, said the use of masks should be an exception, not the rule.
"There are times where I think for officer safety reasons, I understand why they would wear masks," Sandweg said.
"There are going to be cases where there is a potential risk to the safety of the officers themselves, or their families, where they could be identified and then that could lead to them being targeted."
However, Sandweg cautioned that the frequent use of masks has gone beyond exceptional circumstances, saying it wasn't a regular trend under his tenure.
"I think everyone knows the reasons for the masks. Every agent knows they would be doxxed [publicly identified] as would their families," Scott Mechkowski, a retired ICE agent who worked for the agency from the mid-1990s until 2019, told Newsweek.
Sandweg emphasized that masks might be appropriate in high-risk operations targeting gang members or dangerous criminals—but not for routine arrests involving nonviolent immigrants or student visa holders, which has become common practice under the Trump administration.
"You want them to be in a position where they're clearly identified as ICE officers. And I just think a mask creates all sorts of risks operationally."
He painted a stark picture of how the shift might feel for ordinary people and student visa holders caught in the crossfire of President Donald Trump's clampdown on immigrants.
"If you're somebody walking down the street, you know, a student who's got a valid visa and you don't know that ICE is planning to arrest you, and all of a sudden a bunch of masked men quickly approach you. I mean, you have to be scared to death."
What was once an isolated tactic now seems to be standard practice, Sandweg said, calling it "a troubling development."
"I think the most important thing is officer safety. Of course. Wearing the masks themselves creates safety issues, which is why I think they have to be really the exception and not the rule.
The growing use of masks by ICE agents raises questions about transparency, community trust, and public safety. While protecting officers is essential, experts warn that overuse of such tactics may lead to more harm than good. As immigration enforcement continues to ramp up, balancing security with accountability remains a pressing challenge.