As assaults on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials surge nearly 700%, a special agent is sounding the alarm about Democratic efforts to ban face coverings during immigration operations — warning that such policies could expose officers and their families to serious danger.
Speaking anonymously to Fox News Digital, the veteran agent said many ICE officers wear masks not to hide their identities from the public, but to protect their families from doxxing, stalking, and retaliation.
“We wouldn’t wear masks if we didn’t care about our families,” the agent said. “This isn’t about secrecy — it’s about safety.”
Assaults on ICE Officers Skyrocketing
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), assaults on ICE and federal immigration officers have spiked 690% since President Trump returned to office. Between Jan. 21 and June 30, 2024, DHS logged just 10 assaults. Since Jan. 21, 2025 — the day after Trump was sworn in — that number has ballooned to 79 incidents. DHS officials say the true total may be even higher, as reports are still being processed.
The wave of violence comes amid escalating protests, aggressive confrontations, and a push from top Democrats to unmask federal agents conducting immigration enforcement.
Dems Push ‘No Masks for ICE’ Bill
In June, Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., introduced the No Masks for ICE Act, which would prohibit agents from covering their faces during enforcement actions. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries backed the effort, saying ICE agents accused of “aggressive overreach” must be identified — “no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes.”
The special agent, however, sees that rhetoric as dangerous and reckless.
“If anything happens to me or my family, Jeffries is directly responsible,” the agent said.
Agents Targeted, Followed, Photographed
The agent described working in jurisdictions that support sanctuary policies, where protests and surveillance of federal officers have become routine.
“Almost daily, we have people filming agents, taking photos of license plates, following us before operations even begin,” the agent explained. “It makes it extremely difficult to plan missions — especially when working in public buildings or coordinating with police departments.”
Despite the protests, the agent says the result is often false hope for undocumented immigrants.
“They’re being told, ‘If you resist arrest, you might win.’ That’s not sound legal advice,” he said.
‘We’ll Just Go to Another Town’
The agent explained that ICE units often shift operations to other areas when protests grow too disruptive.
“If town X is too heated, we go to town Y,” he said. “We’re not short on targets. But it’s the communities that lose when we’re forced to back off.”
Doxxing Threatens More Than Officers
Beyond operational setbacks, the agent warned that forcing agents to reveal their identities could have devastating consequences.
“We have agents who serve as youth baseball coaches, church leaders, Girl Scout volunteers — they live in these communities,” he said. “They don’t want some angry activist showing up at their daughter’s game or threatening their families.”
As debates over immigration enforcement continue, ICE officials say they’re caught between growing violence and political pressure.
“What do you gain by unmasking federal law enforcement officers who are already being doxxed?” the agent asked. “What’s the value in putting our families at risk?”
