21 State Attorneys General Seek Ban on ICE Agents Wearing Masks

A bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and including Colorado's attorney general, is urging Congress to pass legislation banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing masks during enforcement operations. The proposed bills, including the "No Secret Police Act" and the VISIBLE Act, aim to increase transparency and accountability by requiring agents to clearly identify themselves and prohibit face coverings that conceal their identities. Critics argue that masked ICE agents, often operating in plainclothes and unmarked vehicles, create fear and confusion among the public and raise civil rights concerns, especially amid President Donald Trump's expanded immigration enforcement efforts. ICE defends the use of masks as necessary for agent safety and to protect their families from threats, but critics highlight that federal law requires agents to identify themselves "as soon as it is practical and safe." The California legislature has advanced a bill that would prohibit law enforcement officers from concealing their identities except in narrow exemptions, such as SWAT operations or medical emergencies. Despite growing calls for reform, Republican leaders in Congress have signaled resistance to advancing these measures, leaving the legislative future uncertain.