PHOENIX – Today, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in sending a letter to members of Congress, urging them to pass legislation generally prohibiting federal immigration agents from wearing masks to conceal their identity and requiring them to show their identification and agency-identifying insignia.
In the letter, the coalition expressed concern over escalating incidents involving masked Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) officers dressed in plainclothes and driving unmarked vehicles detaining individuals on streets, at homes, workplaces, and courthouses. The coalition criticizes ICE’s opaque conduct as a stark departure from the transparency and accountability long practiced by traditional law enforcement agencies. These tactics, the letter states, pose significant safety risks and instill fear rather than foster public safety.
"Officers across Arizona do their jobs safely in uniform, without masks daily. ICE agents should too," said Attorney General Mayes. "Secret police tactics like this erode trust in law enforcement and allows criminals to dangerously impersonate officers – which is already happening."
Without clear identification, the attorneys general warn that individuals may not recognize the agents as federal officers, which may prompt bystander intervention, tie up local law enforcement resources, or even escalate dangerous situations. The letter also raises the concern that this lack of identification has enabled individuals to impersonate ICE agents to exploit or harm members of the community.
While the coalition acknowledges that limited protective measures may be appropriate for federal agents in certain situations, they warn that widespread, unchecked use of masks and plainclothes enforcement undermines democratic principles, erodes public trust, and invites civil rights abuses. The coalition urges Congress to pass legislation to ensure that federal immigration agents operate under clear guidelines that promote transparency and accountability.
"America is a free society and we should know who is policing us," said Attorney General Mayes. "American citizens and non-criminals are being wrongfully detained by masked, unidentified agents in parking lots, worksites, and other public spaces. And it all distracts from bringing violent criminals to justice."
In sending this letter, Attorney General Mayes is joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
A copy of the letter is available here.