Democratic lawmakers press Homeland Security chief over masked agents
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Democratic lawmakers argue that the lack of transparency may violate constitutional protections.
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents escort a detained immigrant into an elevator after he exited an immigration courtroom on June 17, 2025 (AP)
Democratic lawmakers are demanding transparency from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over the use of masks and concealed identities by immigration officers, according to a letter obtained by The Guardian.
In the letter, Representatives Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, and Summer Lee urged DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to provide all relevant “memoranda, directives, guidance, communications” related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wearing masks and using unmarked vehicles during enforcement operations.
Such practices may violate Fourth Amendment
The lawmakers argue that such practices may violate constitutional protections. “For every person within the United States, the Fourth Amendment guarantees protection from unreasonable searches and seizures and the Fifth Amendment guarantees a right to due process under the law,” they wrote.
“In direct violation of these principles, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has allowed its agents primarily from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – to conceal their identities and use unmarked vehicles while conducting immigration enforcement activities.”
This letter is part of a broader push by Congress to ensure that immigration officers are clearly identifiable during arrests, a demand echoed by civil rights groups who say the use of masks undermines accountability and public trust.
Garcia and Lee cited multiple recent incidents under the Trump administration in which immigration officers concealed their identities while carrying out arrests. They also referenced a case, first reported by The Intercept, in which two immigration judges in New York obscured the identities of government lawyers seeking deportations.
A 'dangerous erosion of public trust'
The tactics, according to the lawmakers, "cause a dangerous erosion of public trust, due process, and transparency in law enforcement. These tactics contradict longstanding democratic principles such as the public’s right to accountability from those who enforce the law and pave the way for increased crime, making our communities less safe.”
As The Guardian has reported, there have been a growing number of crimes involving individuals posing as DHS officers to rob, kidnap, or even sexually assault victims.
Civil liberties, public safety at risk
Garcia and Lee stressed that the use of masks by ICE agents “makes it nearly impossible” for people to distinguish legitimate law enforcement from potential threats, posing serious risks to civil liberties and public safety.
Democratic Representatives Garcia and Lee highlighted several troubling incidents where individuals impersonated ICE agents, exploiting the lack of clear identification among actual immigration officers. One case from Florida involved a woman wearing an “ICE” shirt and using a radio to kidnap her ex-boyfriend’s wife. In California, teens posing as ICE agents used fake badges to rob Hispanic victims.
“These cases starkly illustrate how the use of masks, unmarked vehicles, and minimal identification by actual ICE agents does not just erode trust – it effectively hands bad actors a roadmap to exploit vulnerable communities,” the lawmakers wrote.
They also pointed to the arrest of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University doctoral student, by masked, plainclothes ICE agents, an event that drew national attention and raised serious concerns about transparency and abuse of power.
While ICE officers have occasionally used masks in the past, Garcia and Lee emphasized that such tactics have escalated under the Trump administration. Unlike local police, immigration agents typically don’t wear official uniforms unless conducting large-scale or high-risk operations.
Expansion of ICE operations amid controversy over identification practices
Lawmakers at both the federal and state levels are pushing for immigration officers to wear visible identification during enforcement operations. Senators Cory Booker and Alex Padilla recently introduced a bill requiring ICE agents to clearly display their agency name and either a name or badge number. They also sent a letter to ICE voicing concern over the current lack of transparency.
A similar bill has been introduced in the House, while states like California, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania have proposed local legislation with similar requirements, allowing exceptions for undercover or safety reasons.
Despite growing concern, ICE Director Todd Lyons has defended the use of masks, citing safety and increasing threats, including doxxing and attacks on agents. However, legal experts warn that the use of masks not only erodes public trust but may also shield officers from accountability.
With Trump’s newly passed spending bill, the administration is poised to expand ICE operations significantly, scaling up arrests and deportations in an effort to reach its goal of deporting one million people annually.
