NEWARK, NJ — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) unveiled legislation Tuesday that would require immigration enforcement officers to display visible identification during public operations, citing safety and accountability concerns tied to recent enforcement tactics.
The VISIBLE Act of 2025 — short for Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement — would mandate that officers from agencies such as ICE and CBP, along with deputized local law enforcement, clearly show their agency name or initials along with either their badge number or full name during any public-facing enforcement activity.
“Americans have watched federal agents with no visible identification detain people off the streets and instill fear in communities across the country,” Booker said, describing the legislation as necessary to “maintain trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
The proposal comes in response to past enforcement operations where federal officers in unmarked tactical gear, masks, and no agency insignia conducted arrests, prompting public confusion and reports of impersonation. Under the new bill, non-medical face coverings would be banned except in cases involving environmental hazards or covert operations.
Padilla said the lack of visible ID “only escalates tensions and spreads fear,” and added, “Immigration agents should be required to display their agency and name or badge number — just like police.”
The VISIBLE Act also requires the Department of Homeland Security to report annually to Congress on compliance and establish disciplinary procedures for violations. Complaints would be investigated by the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
Former DHS official Scott Shuchart called the measure “an important step” to reduce risk and improve transparency, saying, “having government agents dressed like paramilitaries is un-American.”
The bill is backed by 14 other Democratic lawmakers and endorsed by both the ACLU and Public Counsel.
