House Democrats Move to Ban ICE Agents From Wearing Masks
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Democratic lawmakers are pushing forward to advance legislation that would prohibit federal agents from wearing face masks or coverings during immigration enforcement operations.
The No Anonymity in Immigration Enforcement Act would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting enforcement operations within the United States to display clear identification, with limited exceptions for public safety threats.
"The images we've seen of masked, anonymous people grabbing residents off the street in broad daylight don't make our communities safer," California Democratic Representative Laura Friedman told Newsweek in a statement.
Why It Matters
ICE has been facing growing scrutiny under the Trump administration for allowing its agents to carry out targeted enforcement operations in plain clothes and face coverings.
ICE officials argue that the masks are crucial to protect the identities of agents and their families from death threats. The agency has been thrust into the national spotlight as President Donald Trump directs his administration to remove millions of migrants without legal status as part of a hardline mass deportation policy.
Federal agents detain a man after attending a court hearing at immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on July 01, 2025 in New York City. S
Federal agents detain a man after attending a court hearing at immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on July 01, 2025 in New York City. S
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
What To Know
Under the bill, agents would be required to wear clothing that clearly displays their name and shows that they are affiliated with ICE.
The legislation allows exceptions only in specific situations, such as when an agent faces an imminent threat to life or "serious bodily harm", or when protective gear is needed for safety or medical reasons. When an exception is used, a supervisor must review and document it within 48 hours to determine if it was appropriate and take disciplinary action if it was not.
The Department of Homeland Security would be responsible for setting up procedures to ensure compliance, including possible disciplinary measures for violations and a process to accept and review complaints through its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
DHS would also be required to submit an annual report to Congress detailing any disciplinary actions and complaints received related to anonymous agents.
The bill defines what counts as a facial covering, what activities qualify as an enforcement operation, and clarifies that the requirements apply throughout the United States and its territories. The law would take effect 30 days after it is enacted.
"They make Americans and hardworking members of our community who've lived here for decades afraid to go to work, to school, to the doctor, to the park," Friedman said.
"This legislation is about restoring accountability to immigration enforcement. In a democracy, law enforcement should protect the public — not terrorize it," she added.
The legislation is being sponsored by Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, who introduced it on June 12, 2025, with a number of other House Democrats signed on as cosponsors.
What People Are Saying
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told CBS: "It's for the safety of those individuals or the work that they're doing as far as protecting their identity so they can continue to do investigative work."
John Sandweg, who served as acting director of ICE under former President Barack Obama previously told Newsweek: "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."
What Happens Next
As it stands, the legislation is unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled Congress.
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