Two lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties are working together on an amendment that would let Oregon voters decide whether to change the state constitution to ban the use of “secret police.”
Newsweek reached out to the bill’s cosponsors for comment by email outside office hours.
Why It Matters
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and federal partners like the U.S. Border Patrol have faced growing criticism for using agents in plain clothes and face coverings during enforcement operations.
ICE officials say masks are necessary to protect agents and their families from threats. The agency has faced more attention as President Donald Trump pushes his administration to remove millions of migrants without legal status as part of a stricter deportation plan.
What To Know
The proposal was introduced by State Representatives Tom Andersen, a Democrat, and Cyrus Javadi, a Republican. It would require law enforcement officers to wear uniforms and display their names and badge numbers, KATU first reported.
“Transparency isn’t a Republican value or a Democratic value, it’s an American value. And Oregon can lead the way by putting that principle directly into our Constitution,” Javadi told the outlet.
The amendment is expected to be introduced during the 2026 Short Session. If it passes with majority support in both the Oregon House and Senate, voters will decide its future in 2026.
The plan includes exemptions to protect certain police operations. SWAT teams and undercover officers would not have to follow the uniform and identification rules.
Several Democratic-led states have introduced similar bills to prevent federal agents from wearing masks during immigration enforcement.
California, New York, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania have proposed laws requiring federal officers to show identification, with some exceptions for safety or undercover missions, to improve transparency and limit federal authority.
At the federal level, House Democrats proposed the No Anonymity in Immigration Enforcement Act, which would require ICE agents to show clear identification during operations, with exceptions for public safety.
Senate Democrats also introduced the VISIBLE Act, which would make ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers wear readable identification with their names and agency, while restricting most uses of face coverings.
What People Are Saying
State Representative Tom Andersen, a Democrat, told KATU:
“I am introducing this legislation because Oregon must stand up to the anti-American, malignant forces of authoritarianism threatening our country, its democracy, and our freedoms.
This is no longer just some Donald Trump fever dream. It’s happening right now—unidentified federal ICE officers are using violence and the threat of violence in our communities to replace normal law enforcement.”
Republican State Representative Cyrus Javadi told KATU:
“Oregonians shouldn’t have to wonder who’s knocking on their door in the middle of the night. In a free society, the people who enforce the law should never be faceless or unaccountable.”
What Happens Next
If voters approve it, the amendment would become law after the November 2026 midterm elections.
