June 27, 2025 – Washington, D.C. — Democratic lawmakers in Congress are intensifying efforts to address what they describe as a troubling trend of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wearing face masks during operations, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in federal law enforcement.
On June 26, 2025, Representatives Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat, both Democrats from New York, introduced the No Secret Police Act of 2025, a bill aimed at prohibiting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE agents from concealing their identities while making arrests or detaining individuals.
The legislation has garnered support from 37 Democratic lawmakers, reflecting broader unease about the tactics employed in recent immigration enforcement actions.
The proposed No Secret Police Act of 2025 would require federal agents to display identifiable insignia, such as badges or name tags, and provide identification during arrests.
It also explicitly bans the use of homemade, non-tactical masks by law enforcement officers.
According to Rep. Goldman, the bill is intended to curb what he calls “tyranny” and prevent “secret policing” that has become more prevalent since President Donald Trump’s second term began in January 2025.
The legislation responds to reports of masked federal agents detaining immigrants and, in some cases, U.S. citizens, in cities like New York and Los Angeles.
The push for the bill comes amid high-profile incidents involving masked ICE agents.
On June 19, 2025, New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was detained by masked agents inside a federal immigration court in Manhattan.
Lander, who was observing immigration proceedings and escorting individuals to ensure arrests were conducted with judicial warrants, described the encounter as “deeply dehumanizing.”
He was detained for hours, accused of assaulting an officer, though no charges were filed.
Only one agent wore a vest identifying them as part of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division.
Similar concerns have surfaced in California, where masked federal agents have been recorded detaining individuals in public spaces, including parks, courthouses, and workplaces.
California State Senator Sasha Renee Perez introduced the No Vigilantes Act on June 23, 2025, emphasizing that without proper identification, it is impossible to confirm whether detaining agents are legitimate ICE or DHS personnel.
“The truth is, unless these individuals provide proper identification, we don’t know,” Perez said during a press conference in Pasadena.
In another incident, a U.S. Marshals Service deputy was briefly detained by ICE agents in Tucson, Arizona, in May 2025, after being mistaken for a target.
The deputy’s identity was quickly confirmed, but the incident raised alarms about potential racial profiling and the risks of misidentification during operations conducted by masked agents.
Related: Pro Trump Farmers Now Admit They Can’t Find American Workers
Republican Pushback and DHS Defense
The No Secret Police Act of 2025 faces significant opposition in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) criticized the proposal on Fox News on June 9, 2025, arguing that masks are necessary to protect ICE agents from doxxing and assaults.
“From the people who mandated mask-wearing for years in America, it’s absurd.
They need to back off of ICE and respect our agents and stop protesting against them,” Johnson stated.
The Department of Homeland Security has also defended the use of masks, citing a reported 413% increase in assaults against immigration agents.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called criticisms of masked agents “dangerous rhetoric,” claiming that face coverings protect officers from violent threats and doxxing attempts.
ICE Acting Chief Todd Lyons echoed this sentiment, stating that masks are essential to shield agents and their families from death threats and harassment, particularly following high-profile operations.
On June 4, 2025, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Protecting Law Enforcement from Doxxing Act, which would criminalize doxxing federal agents with penalties of up to five years in prison.
Blackburn’s bill is a direct response to Democratic efforts to identify masked ICE agents, highlighting the deepening partisan divide over the issue.
The controversy over masked ICE agents is part of a larger debate surrounding the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies.
Since January 2025, ICE has ramped up operations, with a White House goal of arresting 3,000 migrants per day.
These efforts have sparked protests in cities like Los Angeles, where National Guard troops were deployed on June 7, 2025, following clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.
Critics argue that the use of masks and tactical gear by ICE agents exacerbates tensions and undermines public trust.
Civil rights advocates and immigration attorneys have also raised concerns about the chilling effect of masked agents operating in sensitive locations like courthouses.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association warned that such tactics deter immigrants from accessing legal proceedings, potentially violating their constitutional rights.
In April 2025, Tufts University Ph.D. student Rümeysa Öztürk was detained by masked agents near her campus in Massachusetts, an incident that drew significant attention and criticism.
Public sentiment, as reflected on platforms like X, is polarized.
Some users, like @cwebbonline and @RepDanGoldman, have called for investigations into ICE’s use of masks, arguing that it undermines democratic principles.
Others, including @libsoftiktok and @RedWave_Press, defend the agents, citing the need for protection amid rising threats.
Related: ICE Is Now Reportedly Running Out of Money
Legislative Outlook
While the No Secret Police Act of 2025 has strong Democratic support, its passage in the Republican-controlled House is uncertain.
A similar bill in California, the No Secret Police Act (SB 627), introduced by State Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguín, is likely to pass in the Democratic-controlled state legislature.
However, California lawmakers lack authority over federal agents, limiting the bill’s impact on ICE operations.
As the debate continues, both sides remain entrenched. Democrats argue that transparency is essential for accountability and public safety, while Republicans and DHS officials maintain that masks are a necessary precaution in a volatile environment.
The outcome of this legislative push could set a precedent for how federal law enforcement balances officer safety with public oversight in an increasingly polarized political climate.
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