Two Democratic senators from California have introduced a bill titled the “No Secret Police Act,” which aims to prohibit law enforcement officers from covering their faces when making arrests in the state.
This measure comes in response to recent immigration operations carried out by hooded federal agents, dressed in civilian clothes and without visible identification, a practice that has generated fear and outrage among migrant communities and civil rights advocates.
Legislative reaction to immigration raids with undercover ICE agents
Senator Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat and one of the bill’s authors, expressed concern over what he considers behavior incompatible with a democracy:
“The recent federal operations in California have created an atmosphere of profound terror,” he stated.
“If we want the public to trust law enforcement, we cannot allow them to behave like a secret police in an authoritarian state.”
The statements refer to recent immigration raids carried out by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), especially in areas of high Latino concentration such as Southern California.
In many cases, the agents acted undercover, with their faces covered and without official badges or identification.
What exactly does the law propose?
The legislation, co-sponsored by Assemblyman Jesse Arreguín (D-Berkeley), requires all law enforcement officers operating in California to be identifiable, either by official uniform, visible badge or agency insignia.
The text includes exceptions for:
SWAT teams, whose tactical work requires temporary anonymity.
Medical masks or protective equipment used in emergencies such as forest fires, pandemics or other disasters.
“This bill will ensure that law enforcement is easily identifiable, thus maintaining trust and accountability,” Arreguín stressed.
Clashes between civilians and undercover agents on the rise
According to a statement issued by Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE agents have experienced a 500% increase in assaults.
The total number of attacks and the time frame of this statistic were not specified.
However, videos posted on social networks show increasingly tense confrontations between civilians and federal agents with their faces covered, especially when citizens try to record or prevent arrests.
McLaughlin defended ICE’s actions.
Estos son hombres y mujeres valientes que arriesgan sus vidas para arrestar a criminales peligrosos y miembros de pandillas
Legal criticism and institutional concern
The New York City Bar Association issued a statement on June 20, 2025, expressing alarm over the practice of face concealment by immigration agents.
According to the union, this conduct violates federal regulations on transparency in immigration enforcement actions.
They cite Title 8 of the U.S. Code, which states, “At the time of arrest, the designated immigration officer shall, as soon as practical and safe to do so, identify himself or herself as an officer authorized to make the arrest.”
For the association, the use of masks is a way of evading legal responsibility and hinders citizen oversight.
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