Van Nuys News Press: Congresswoman Friedman Helps Lead Federal Legislation to Stop ICE Agents From Hiding Their Identities

LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, July 1, 2025, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) announced that she is helping lead federal legislation that would prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from concealing their identities during enforcement actions. The No Masks for ICE Act, introduced by Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), would require ICE agents to wear visible identification and prohibit the use of face coverings during operations, except when necessary to address specific safety concerns.

A recording of the announcement can be found here.

“In a democracy, law enforcement should be visible, accountable, and working to build trust — not operating in the shadows,” said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). “ICE agents wearing masks and refusing to identify themselves during raids doesn’t make our communities safer. It makes them more fearful, more vulnerable, and less protected. I’m proud to help lead this effort to restore basic transparency and public safety.”

“We would never accept local police operating in masks without names or badges—and we shouldn’t accept it from ICE either,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-7). “When agents hide their faces and identities, it creates chaos, spreads fear, and opens the door to abuse. I introduced the No Masks for ICE Act to end these secretive practices and bring basic accountability and transparency to federal immigration enforcement. I’m proud to have Congresswoman Friedman’s support on this critical legislation and look forward to working with her to get it passed.”

“I’m grateful to Congresswoman Friedman for your leadership on this issue and for bringing a clear voice of accountability to Washington. Burbank has always prided itself in having some of the best police and fire in our nation because our residents value safety, justice, and the spirit of community. That spirit of community and safety has been shattered over the last few weeks by the threat and occurrence of ICE raids, violations of due process, and more recently increasing reports of individuals impersonating ICE agents,” said Burbank Mayor Nikki Perez. “If ICE is truly practicing law enforcement and following the due process of law, then why the need to cover your faces and hide identification like a criminal? There’s no need. Ultimately, this should not be seen as a partisan issue or even an issue of immigration enforcement. This is simply put a general public safety issue.”

“For the past 23 days, ICE agents have conducted raids across our city that have been disruptive, cruel, and frankly, unconstitutional. Many of these raids have been led by agents in plain clothes, wearing no identification, refusing to show a badge, and even covering up their faces,” said Los Angeles Councilmember Nithya Raman. “It is a basic tenet of democratic society that law enforcement must be accountable to the public. The No Masks for ICE Act is a first step, a minimal step, towards restoring that accountability. I’m proud to support this bill and to stand with Congresswoman Friedman to demand transparency, accountability, and the basic safety and protections for everyone in our community.”

The No Masks for ICE Act would:

• Prohibit ICE agents from covering their faces during enforcement actions, except where medically necessary or required for immediate safety concerns.
• Require ICE agents to wear clothing that clearly displays their name and agency affiliation during arrests or enforcement operations.

The bill comes amid growing reports across Los Angeles of masked, plainclothes ICE agents conducting arrests at homes, workplaces, near schools, and playgrounds — without displaying any visible agency affiliation or personal identification. Local officials have warned that this practice sows fear in immigrant communities and confuses the public, with some residents mistaking enforcement actions for kidnappings.

Friedman was joined by Burbank Mayor NikKk Perez and Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman.