𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗡𝗭𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗭~"𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗨𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗦, 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗟, 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨'𝗥𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗦!"

 

U.S. Representative Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) is leading an effort in Congress to require immigration officers to clearly identify themselves during enforcement operations, a move he says will strengthen public trust and accountability. The proposed legislation, known as the VISIBLE Act, would prohibit officers from wearing masks or face coverings during arrests, except for medical reasons and require visible identification such as name tags or badges.

Gonzalez, who represents Texas District 34, said the bill is intended to increase transparency and public safety while still allowing officers to do their jobs:

 “The VISIBLE Act will build trust between the public and immigration enforcement personnel, ensure accountability during enforcement operations, and importantly, increase safety for both our law enforcement officers and the general public,” he said.

The push comes amid growing concern over the use of balaclavas, gaiters, and other face coverings by federal immigration agents during raids. Videos have surfaced showing officers in unmarked vans detaining individuals without clearly identifying themselves, which critics argue contributes to fear and confusion, especially in immigrant communities.

Supporters of Gonzalez’s bill say the measure aligns with standards already expected of local police officers. Dan Herman, senior director for democratic accountability at the Center for American Progress, argued the bill simply asks immigration officers to meet the same expectations. “This bill does not prevent ICE from doing their jobs,” Herman said. “It just expects them to operate at the same level of transparency we demand from other law enforcement.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) currently have protocols requiring agents to identify themselves "as soon as it is practical and safe to do so," and the public has the right to ask for identification. But concerns persist, especially as incidents of agents covering their faces continue.

Jim Barton, Editor

A similar debate is playing out in Los Angeles County, California, where local officials have voted to draft a rule banning law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from disguising their identities while working in unincorporated areas. The effort stems from repeated instances of masked federal agents conducting public arrests without clear identification. 

“Being forcibly detained by a federal officer in the middle of the day is scary enough,”  said one official. “Having it done by someone whose face, name, and badge are all hidden is even more disturbing.”

Federal officials, however, say the use of masks is often necessary to protect officers from being targeted or harassed. Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, criticized the push to ban masks, calling it unrealistic and potentially dangerous:

 “These sanctuary politicians are trying to outlaw officers wearing masks to protect themselves from being doxed and targeted,” she said.

Legal experts caution that local governments may have little authority to regulate federal officers. Kevin Johnson, an immigration law professor at UC Davis, said any county-level ban would likely be struck down under the Constitution’s supremacy clause, which gives federal law precedence over local ordinances.

Still, some local leaders appear ready to challenge federal practices in court if necessary. “If we have to see you in court, we'll see you in court,” explained one California official.

The debate underscores the broader tension between federal immigration enforcement and local communities, with lawmakers like Gonzalez trying to bridge the divide by insisting on more visibility, literally, from those enforcing the law.