RELEASE: Rep. Friedman Responds to ICE Director’s Decision to Continue Letting Agents Wear Masks

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, July 22, 2025, U.S. Representative Laura Friedman (CA-30) issued the following statement in response to ICE acting director Todd Lyon’s decision to allow ICE agents to continue wearing masks while conducting immigration raids.

“This is not how democracies work. In a free society, law enforcement officers are accountable to the public. On the other hand, secret police disappearing people from the streets are the hallmarks of a police state. I am deeply concerned about the prospect of ICE agents continuing to go about immigration raids in plainclothes, masks, and without identifiers that indicate what agency they’re representing. The rules governing law enforcement should extend to federal immigration agents.” said Representative Laura Friedman (CA-30). “I’ll keep fighting to pass commonsense legislation, like the No Masks for ICE Act, to keep our communities safe.”

Representative Laura Friedman (CA-30) is helping lead the No Masks for ICE Act with Representative Nydia Velazquez (NY-7). The bill prohibits ICE agents from wearing masks to conceal their identity except for health or safety reasons, as well as compels the Department of Homeland Security to set up disciplinary measures for agents that refuse to comply.

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