California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined a multistate coalition urging Congress to pass legislation requiring immigration agents to identify themselves. The proposed legislation would prohibit agents from wearing masks that conceal their identity and mandate the display of identification and agency insignia, with limited exceptions.
Attorney General Bonta stated, “Transparency and accountability are the foundation of good law enforcement, yet in recent weeks, ICE agents have begun the shocking and unacceptable practice of deploying masked agents to carry out immigration enforcement operations.” He criticized the Trump Administration for using these tactics as part of an anti-immigration agenda.
Recent reports describe masked men in plainclothes using unmarked vehicles to detain individuals from various locations. These actions have been compared to repressive tactics not suited for a free country. ICE officers allegedly use these methods without identifying themselves as law enforcement, causing fear rather than protection within communities.
The attorneys general argue that these practices pose public safety risks by creating confusion about whether detentions are legal. Without proper identification, witnesses might mistake arrests for kidnappings, potentially leading them to intervene or call local law enforcement, which could create unsafe situations.
Former ICE official Scott Shuchart warned of potential “vigilante problems” due to this confusion. This could endanger both those targeted by enforcement actions and the ICE agents themselves. Some incidents reportedly involve impersonation of officers by individuals seeking harm.
While some protection measures for federal agents’ identities may be necessary, the widespread use of masks without identification is seen as compromising public safety and justice system integrity. Acting Director Todd Lyons defended mask usage citing harassment concerns but was criticized for ignoring associated risks.
The letter sent by Attorney General Bonta is supported by attorneys general from several states including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
A copy of the letter is available online.
