Senate Democrats Introduce Bill to Unmask ICE Agents
VISIBLE Act aims to curb fear and impersonation by requiring ICE and DHS agents to show badges and ban face masks during public arrests.
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats introduced legislation Tuesday that would require immigration enforcement officers to wear clearly visible identification during public operations and prohibit the use of non-medical face coverings, amid escalating tensions over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
The VISIBLE Act of 2025—short for Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement—was unveiled by Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Alex Padilla (D-CA), who is ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee. The bill comes in direct response to what the lawmakers called “indiscriminate and alarming” enforcement tactics by federal agents, who have detained immigrants in public spaces while wearing unmarked tactical gear and concealing their identities.
“For weeks, Americans have watched federal agents with no visible identification detain people off the streets and instill fear in communities across the country,” Booker said in a press release. “The lack of visible identification and uniform standards for immigration enforcement officers has created confusion, stoked fear, and undermined public trust in law enforcement.”
Padilla added, “When federal immigration agents show up and pull someone off the street in plainclothes with their face obscured and no visible identification, it only escalates tensions and spreads fear while shielding federal agents from basic accountability.”
Under the bill, officers from the Department of Homeland Security—including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP)—as well as federal, state, and local officers involved in immigration operations, would be required to display their agency’s name or initials, along with either their name or badge number. This information would need to remain visible and unobscured by tactical gear or clothing. The legislation also bans non-medical masks and face coverings that obscure an officer’s identity, except in cases involving environmental hazards or covert operations.
The bill would not apply to non-public or covert missions, or to actions taken solely under criminal authority. Enforcement officers may still wear protective equipment when required for safety.
Supporters of the legislation argue it will help curb impersonation and reduce confusion during arrests. “Masked, plainclothes officers create an unreasonable risk of escalating violence and unnerve everyone who sees them,” said Scott Shuchart, a former ICE and DHS civil rights official. “Having government agents dressed like paramilitaries is un-American… The VISIBLE Act makes good sense and would be straightforward for DHS officials to implement.”
The bill also directs the Department of Homeland Security to develop disciplinary procedures for violations, report compliance to Congress annually, and handle related complaints through the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
The VISIBLE Act is co-sponsored by a slate of Senate Democrats, including Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), among others. The measure is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Public Counsel.
The legislation follows reports of alarming ICE activity, including officers conducting high-profile arrests in public places while concealing their identities. Lawmakers have also highlighted growing incidents of impersonation, such as a robbery in North Carolina where armed individuals posing as ICE agents invaded a home.
The Trump administration has not formally responded to the bill. However, White House officials have previously defended the use of face coverings, citing threats to officer safety and the risk of doxxing. At a recent press conference, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said: “People are out there taking photos of the names and their faces and posting them online with death threats to their family and themselves… I’m not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line because people don’t like what immigration enforcement is.”
It remains unclear whether the bill will gain traction in a divided Senate.