NY AG, lawmakers push to unmask ICE

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 20 other state attorneys general want Congress to pass federal laws requiring federal immigration agents to identify themselves. The theoretical measures would prevent them from wearing a mask to hide their faces or concealing their identifications or badges during arrests.

The AGs sent a letter—available to read at the bottom of this story—to all Congressmembers on Tuesday. It argued that masked, plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents create fear, makes agents less accountable, and endangers public safety. They made the case for acting quickly to require that all agencies follow basic rules, show accountability, and respect the rights of people detained by their officers.

"It is deeply disturbing that, in the United States of America, masked agents can pull people off the streets in unmarked cars without ever identifying themselves as law enforcement," James said in a written statement announcing the letter. "There is no place in this country for a secret police force operating in the shadows."

The attorneys general name checked several proposed bills as potentially meeting their demands, including the "No Secret Police Act," the "No Anonymity in Immigration Enforcement Act," and the "ICE Badge Visibility Act" in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, they cited the "Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act."

Their call for transparency comes as New York State Senator Patricia Fahy became the prime sponsor of the Senate version of the Mandating End of Lawless Tactics (MELT) Act on Wednesday. That bill would ban ICE agents from wearing masks or plainclothes when operating in New York.

That proposed bill makes agents wear clear uniforms with visible name badges and agency-identifying apparel. It would see agencies filing public reports documenting when and why they wore masks, use-of-force incidents, and civil arrests conducted in-state.

"When agents of the federal government are operating like masked militias, we’ve crossed a dangerous line by turning immigration enforcement into a paramilitary secret police force that should shock the nation’s collective conscience," Fahy said in a written statement. She said that current ICE tactics go "beyond immigration enforcement" and resemble "authoritarian regimes."

The bill still awaits an official number in the legislature. Even so, if eventually passed and signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, the law could see officers who violate the act facing a misdemeanor charge.

The attorneys general said that ICE agents wearing masks and regular clothes make arrests without identifying themselves, all while driving unmarked cars. They said that, to bystanders, this is no different than witnessing a kidnapping. They also argued that it prevents public reports on legitimate bad behavior from those agents, eroding short- and long-term trust.

The letter identified current federal laws that already require immigration officers to self-identify "as soon as it is practical and safe to do so" during an arrest. The letter writers said that they think ICE's current procedures violate those laws, so Congress should clarify those requirements to prevent further problems. Although exceptions or protections for agents could be necessary in rare circumstances, the AGs insisted that wearing masks and anonymity shouldn't be normal.

The AGs outlined safety risks for people being arrested, ICE agents, and members of the public who try to step in to save a victim from being abducted. And they underlined the issue of people taking advantage of ICE's secretive nature to impersonate them.

The letter from the attorneys general cited former ICE official Scott Shuchart's concern that the feds might be "setting ourselves up for a kind of vigilante problem where people either don't know, or at least aren't sure, that these officers who are dressed up like bank robbers are actually law enforcement officers."

Acting Director Todd Lyons has defended the use of masks by citing concerns about harassment against agents and their families, according to a June 2, 2025, Associated Press report by Leah Willingham.

The attorneys general acknowledged concerns about harassment against doxed agents and their families, but said they can resolve those concerns in the limited number of cases that are legitimate. They also said that those concerns should not outweigh risks to public safety and civil liberties.

If federal authorities are confident their practices are legal and fair, they should not be afraid to identify themselves. That's according to James and the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

The push follows a significant increase in funding for ICE included in OBBBA. The Big Beautiful Bill gave the agency a $75 billion funding increase.

Adding another layer, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order on Friday permitting local law enforcement—including those deputized to assist in ICE raids—to conceal their identities during approved operations such as immigration enforcement. "All federal, state and local law enforcement officers, in the furtherance of carrying out specific operations, pursuant to the policies and procedures of such agency or department and with the approval of their supervisor(s), shall be permitted to wear masks and/or other facial coverings when deemed necessary to protect their personal safety, the personal safety of their families, or the integrity of the operation," the new order reads.

Blakeman previously signed an executive order banning people from wearing masks while committing a crime—which critics characterize as a way to criminalize protest. "Wearing a mask, if you're not law enforcement, impedes law enforcement from doing their duties and responsibilities because people will cover themselves," he said, identifying the distinction between the ban and the updated exception to the ban in his new order. "Unless it's for a religious reason or a health reason, they're covering themselves so they can get away with a crime, in most cases."

Take a look at the letter below: