Can local authorities in the U.S. prevent federal immigration agents from operating without identification and with their faces covered? A new legislative proposal aims to answer that question with a resounding yes.
Amid a growing climate of concern over the tactics used by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), lawmakers from Illinois have introduced a bill aimed at eradicating what they consider a dangerous trend: the conduct of masked and anonymous agents in immigration operations.
A law against the "secret police"
The called “No Secret Police Act of 2025” (Ley de No Policía Secreta de 2025) seeks to amend the National Security Act of 2002, establishing visibility and identification requirements for all agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The legislation explicitly prohibits the use of masks or face coverings and would require agents to wear uniforms, badges, and visible credentials that identify them as such.
“ICE agents wear masks, conceal their identities, and abduct people off the streets without a court order. That is not law enforcement; it is a clandestine operation, and it must stop,” stated Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García, one of the co-sponsors of the initiative, in remarks reported by local Chicago media.
The proposal has been supported by seven Democratic representatives from Illinois: García, Delia Ramírez, Jonathan Jackson, Danny Davis, Sean Casten, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Janice Schakowsky.
Pressure also at the local level
Beyond the Congress, there are also parallel movements in Chicago.
The Police District Council 12 demanded that Mayor Brandon Johnson and Superintendent Larry Snelling prohibit the use of masks among federal agents operating in the city.
In a letter sent on June 24, the district council members demanded clear "identification standards" for all law enforcement officials.
"At a minimum, we need to know exactly who they are when approaching any resident. That is, without a mask and with an identification tag from the agency, as well as a badge or credential," declared Leonardo Quintero, a council member.
The local initiative also has the support of Councilman Andre Vásquez, chair of the city's immigration committee. Vásquez noted that, to date, they have not received any response or concrete strategy from local or state authorities to protect residents against masked DHS agents.
Covert Tactics: Between Security and Fear
The use of masks by ICE agents has increased since Donald Trump's second term.
According to Scott Shuchart, a former policy official at ICE, this practice contradicts the principles of police transparency in the U.S.:
"In general, police personnel need to have patches with names, badge numbers, or other indicators that the public can see and use to file complaints."
The ICE has, however, defended the use of face coverings as a protective measure against "doxing," the online publication of personal information.
“There are people taking photographs of names and faces and posting them online with death threats,” justified Todd Lyons, acting head of ICE.
Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, also supported this stance: “They have been victims of doxing repeatedly. I should know because I have also been doxxed thousands of times.”
An alarming national trend
The operations with masked agents are not limited to Chicago.
Similar incidents have been reported in Miami, Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston, and other cities.
In a widely publicized case on social media, armed agents without identification arrested Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk in a suburb of Boston. Her terrified reaction, captured on video, sparked a wave of criticism and protests.
In California, state lawmakers have introduced a proposal to ban the use of masks by immigration agents.
Additionally, the mayor of Huntington Park, Arturo Flores, has ordered the local police to verify the identity of any agent participating in raids within the city limits.
Impact on the immigrant community
Immigrant rights advocates and academics have warned that these tactics can have devastating effects.
Adam Goodman, a history professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, noted: “It is a matter of tremendous concern and can lead to racial discrimination and the violation of basic civil rights and liberties.”
Organizers and witnesses have reported the use of unmarked vehicles, refusals to show credentials, and arrests made without judicial orders or clear information about the process. Some masked agents were wearing vests with insignias from other agencies, such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which collaborates with ICE in certain operations.
A complex legal battle
Although the intention of the law and local measures is clear, their implementation presents challenges. There are no federal regulations prohibiting the use of masks by law enforcement, and it remains unclear whether local authorities can impose binding regulations on federal agents.
Nonetheless, in Chicago, community police chief Angel Novalez stated that residents can call the police if they suspect someone is impersonating an officer. “The police will attempt to verify their identity,” he assured.
Escalation of resources and fear of mass deportations
The debate is intensifying in a context of increased funding and capabilities for ICE. Under the tax legislation pushed by Trump, ICE could become the largest law enforcement agency in the country, with $170 billion in funding. This would be allocated to new detention centers, the expansion of the border wall, hiring immigration judges, and increasing arrest and deportation operations.
“It’s going to be very difficult. We do not have the same resources as the government,” warned Eréndira Rendón, vice president of immigrant justice at the Resurrection Project. “With so many officers and more raids, it will be a challenge to represent everyone.”
The promoters of the No Secret Police Law insist that the anonymity of agents erodes public trust, violates civil rights, and creates a culture of impunity.
“The complete lack of identification and total disregard for the personal safety of anyone they interact with has been terrifying,” expressed an organizer from Chicago who requested anonymity for safety reasons.
The message from the police district council of the Near West encapsulates the spirit of this struggle: "No masks. No concealment. The public has the right to know who is interacting with them and under what authority."
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