VISIBLE Act sparks debate over safety and accountability for ICE officers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ValleyCentral) – Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) introduced the VISIBLE
Act to the House of Representatives late last week, aiming to bar immigration enforcement
officers from concealing their identities.

“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," Gonzalez said.

If signed into law, the bill would require immigration officers to provide clear identification during enforcement actions. It would also ban the use of masks and other face coverings that may obscure an agent’s identity. Some exceptions do permit the use of masks for medical purposes.

Left-wing policy experts are advocating for the bill’s passage. Dan Herman, senior director for
democratic accountability at the Center for American Progress, said it would align expectations
for immigration officers with those of traditional police.

“This bill does not prevent ICE from doing their jobs,” Herman said. “This bill just expects them
to hold up to the standard that we expect all police to operate in.”

He added that masks also bring unforeseen challenges.

“Some of these arrests look more like abductions… and there has been an increase in people
pretending to be federal law enforcement. This has happened around the country to harass or
actually abduct people,” Herman said.

On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) argues that removing the masks
endangers immigration officers — many of whom have reported threats against themselves and
their families.

“The VISIBLE Act is an unacceptable, blatant disregard for the safety of the brave men and
women who risk their lives every day to protect our communities,” De La Cruz said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the uptick in violence against ICE in a
press conference earlier this month.

“Officers have faced a 700% increase in violence against them and their families in the last six
months,” Noem said. “But what I will tell you is we continue to see citizens from across this
country sign up and want to be an ICE officer.”

Still, David Bier, Director of Immigration Studies at the Libertarian Cato Institute, supports the
bill, calling the use of masks by ICE unconstitutional.

“This is the sort of thing you see in authoritarian countries,” Bier said. “Masking is used both as
an intimidation tactic by the government, but also as a way to shield those individuals from any
sort of accountability for their actions.”

Despite his support for the VISIBLE Act, he said it’s unlikely to pass through the Republican
stronghold in Congress.

“There's not an opportunity right now to pass this into law right now, but it's certainly the kind of thing that that does send a message,” Bier said.

The bill is still in its early stages and will likely take some time before it reaches a vote. The
House is already in August recess, and the Senate will join them next week.