Since Donald Trump returned to the presidency, masked federal agents have ramped up arrests of immigrants — and in some cases, even U.S. citizens — sparking alarm over the rise of what critics call “secret policing.” Now, two Democratic lawmakers say they’ve had enough.
Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat of New York introduced the No Secret Police Act of 2025 on Thursday, aiming to ban federal agents from hiding their identities while making arrests. The bill would prohibit agents with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from wearing masks or face coverings, require them to display official insignia, and mandate that they identify themselves when detaining individuals. Homemade, non-tactical face coverings would be explicitly outlawed.
“Across the country, plainclothes federal agents in makeshift masks are staking out immigration courts and targeting law-abiding immigrants,” Goldman said. “This isn’t about officer safety — it’s about intimidation. We are not an authoritarian state, and this bill ensures that our laws are enforced by accountable, identifiable officers, not anonymous enforcers of fear.”
The legislation comes just days after New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by masked federal agents while attending an immigration hearing in Manhattan. Lander said he was there to observe and assist immigrants who might otherwise be detained without proper judicial warrants — something he’d done before without incident. This time, however, he was forcefully detained. Only one of the agents wore visible ICE markings. Lander was accused of assaulting an officer but was later released without charges.
Goldman’s office says 37 House Democrats have already backed the legislation, which echoes similar efforts at the state level, including California’s No Vigilantes Act introduced earlier this week.
California state Sen. Sasha Renee Perez highlighted the confusion caused by anonymous agents. “The public can’t be expected to assume these arrests are lawful when the people making them refuse to show ID,” she said during a press event.
Still, the proposed federal bill faces stiff opposition in the Republican-controlled House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) dismissed the idea earlier this month during an appearance on Fox News, arguing that requiring ICE agents to show their identities would put them at risk. “These are the same people who forced Americans to wear masks during COVID,” Johnson said. “Now they want to strip our agents of anonymity while they’re doing dangerous work. It’s hypocritical and dangerous.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi struck a similar tone during a recent Senate hearing, claiming the issue of masked agents hadn’t been raised with her before but insisting that federal officers are facing increased threats and doxxing.
CNN has reported that the trend of masked federal agents became more visible in March, with plainclothed officers making arrests at protests and immigration actions across college campuses — often without presenting ID, badges, or warrants.
Immigrant rights groups say the strategy is spreading fear. Natalia Aristizabal of Make the Road New York said, “These federal agents are targeting people in homes, parks, and workplaces — all while masked and unidentifiable. This has to end. The public has the right to know who is enforcing the law.”
The White House pushed back in a statement Thursday, blaming what it called “radical anti-ICE rhetoric” for an alleged 500% increase in assaults against federal agents. However, no evidence was provided — just a link to a social media post from a private citizen.
The New York City Bar Association, meanwhile, emphasized in a recent statement that current federal law already requires ICE agents to identify themselves as soon as it is “practical and safe” when making arrests. DHS policy also mandates written documentation explaining how officers made their identity clear at the time of an arrest. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia recently pressed DHS officials to follow this rule amid a series of masked arrests in their state.
Experts and police organizations have also warned that face coverings by officers can escalate tensions and confuse the public. The International Association of Chiefs of Police has cautioned against the practice, saying it could encourage impersonation and erode trust in law enforcement.
Recent incidents support those concerns. Two Minnesota state legislators were targeted in shootings last week by a man impersonating a police officer. And in California, multiple ICE impersonators have reportedly used their fake identities to commit crimes, including sexual assaults against immigrant women.
“If you’re truly enforcing the law, you shouldn’t be hiding your face,” Rep. Espaillat said. “Our bill is about preventing tyranny, protecting communities, and making sure the people behind the badge are accountable to the American people.”
