Following a surge in reports from women alleging abuse by individuals posing as immigration agents, dozens of Democratic lawmakers are urging the Department of Homeland Security to reform enforcement protocols and require agents to clearly identify themselves.
The Democratic Women's Caucus sent a letter to DHS officials outlining concerns about the use of masks and unmarked vehicles by immigration agents during enforcement operations, particularly involving women.
As highlighted by Border Report, many complaints cite the use of masks by agents, an approach that has created opportunities for impersonators and vigilante groups to pose as federal officers and carry out assaults.
"All our lives, we are taught to fear masked men in unmarked vehicles," the caucus wrote. "We learn we should run from such men to avoid being kidnapped, sexually assaulted, or killed. Yet, ICE is increasingly conducting raids and arrests in masks, plain clothes, without visible identification or badges, using unmarked vehicles—tactics that cause confusion, terror, and mistrust among the public."
The caucus said these practices have allowed other individuals to exploit the situation, targeting women under the guise of federal authority. The current conditions, they added, demand urgent intervention from DHS.
In recent months, reports of impersonators posing as ICE officers and attacking women have surfaced across the country. In June, a Latina woman told police she was raped by a man in Washington, D.C., who claimed to be an immigration officer and forced her into a car, according to WUSA.
In a separate case in North Carolina, a migrant woman reported being kidnapped and raped by a man who pretended to be a law enforcement officer. According to court documents, 37-year-old Carl Thomas Bennett threatened to deport the woman unless she had sex with him and presented a badge and business card to convince her, as reported by WBTV.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defended the use of masks, saying ICE officers are "always wearing something" that identifies them as federal agents, but noted that masks are sometimes necessary for their safety amid rising threats.
"It's about making sure that they're safe while doing this job and that they get home to their families safe at night," she said.
As journalist José Olivares explained in an interview with PBS, there is currently no law or regulation that prohibits federal officers from wearing masks.
"In fact, it's the opposite," Olivares said. "The Department of Homeland Security allows it so officers can protect themselves from being doxxed, identified, or potentially targeted for threats or assaults."
Allegations of abuse by immigration agents—or by individuals impersonating them—have also been reported within detention centers.
According to a July investigation by HuffPost, multiple women held in ICE custody said they were raped, denied medical care during pregnancy, and subjected to other serious human rights violations.
In response, the Democratic Women's Caucus sent another letter to DHS calling for an immediate investigation into the allegations.
"Over and over again, women are being mistreated by ICE, CBP, and contractors from detainment to detention," the letter said. "These horrifying stories are the result of systemic neglect, cruelty, and policy failures that we must confront head-on. We demand answers, accountability, and action."
As the debate continues at the federal level, lawmakers in Pennsylvania are advancing the "No Secret Police" bill, which would ban law enforcement officers — including ICE agents — from wearing face coverings during operations. The legislation would also require clearly marked uniforms to identify their agency.
"The use of masks effectively dehumanizes enforcers while rendering invisible the people who are targeted," said state Sen. Nikil Saval, who co-sponsored the bill with state Sen. Amanda Cappelletti.
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