Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., is sounding the alarm over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, warning that expanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and allowing agents to wear masks during operations could open the door to “vigilantism” and unchecked abuse.
Speaking on The Bulwark podcast, Murphy said the Trump administration’s plan to rapidly scale up ICE and mask agents during raids poses a serious risk to civil liberties and public safety. “This is just a cover for illegality and for brutality,” Murphy said. “If nobody can identify the law enforcement officer that’s beating the hell out of an immigrant, then everybody can get away with it.”
Murphy argued that the anonymity provided by masks could embolden bad actors and lower the standards for new hires. “As you hire into ICE so quickly, the standard for who you hire is going to go down and down and down,” he said. “There are going to be some pretty unsavory people who get hired, and the masks allow them to get away with a level of depravity that none of us should accept.”
Trump’s Immigration Surge and Concerns of Violence
President Trump has prioritized a major expansion of ICE as part of his renewed push for mass deportations. The Department of Homeland Security has defended the use of masks, citing a sharp rise—830% since January—in attacks and doxxing attempts targeting ICE officers and their families.
The White House responded forcefully to Murphy’s criticism.
“Chris Murphy’s smears are wrong and reckless,” said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson. “ICE officers wear masks to protect themselves and their families from being doxxed in the midst of dangerous, untrue comments from elected Democrats like Murphy. It’s shameful that Murphy would attempt to undermine these brave men and women with baseless attacks.”
Murphy acknowledged the threat of doxxing but warned the potential consequences of masking law enforcement could be even greater. He noted that masked agents conducting immigration raids in heavily armed communities could escalate into violent confrontations.
“One of my colleagues was speculating that the reason these high-profile raids are happening in California and not as visibly in places like Arizona is because of the worry that in communities with concealed-carry populations, it could lead to a shootout,” Murphy said. “And that shouldn’t ever be the reason why you’re not enforcing the law—but it’s a sign of how dangerous this approach could be.”
Calls to Unmask ICE Agents
Murphy’s remarks come as lawmakers in states like Massachusetts are pushing legislation to force ICE agents to unmask during operations. The senator emphasized he’s not opposed to law enforcement—but he is concerned about who may be drawn to the job under Trump’s policies.
“There is an element of folks who are going to be drawn to these jobs that see it as a bonus that they can get away with masked vigilantism,” Murphy said.
The debate highlights a broader divide over how immigration enforcement should be carried out—and whether anonymity for federal agents is a matter of protection or a shield for potential misconduct.
