Stop Secret Police Tactics — Pass the VISIBLE Act Now

Across the country, people are reporting encounters with federal immigration agents wearing masks, plain clothes, and no visible identification. These tactics have sparked fear, confusion, and a dangerous rise in law enforcement impersonation. Local leaders, civil rights groups, and members of Congress are warning that this erosion of transparency puts everyone at risk. Congress must act now.

No one should have to guess whether the person detaining them is a real federal officer or a criminal pretending to be one. Yet that is exactly what’s happening when immigration agents operate without clear identification. Human rights organizations have warned that masked, unidentifiable federal agents undermine the rule of law and public trust. Public safety experts agree: when officers aren’t clearly identified, situations escalate faster, accountability disappears, and communities are less safe.

The solution is clear. The Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement Act, known as the VISIBLE Act, would require immigration enforcement officers to display clear, legible identification during public-facing enforcement actions. That includes the officer’s agency and a name or badge number. This is not radical. It is basic transparency.

Research from policy experts shows that operating without identification increases the risk of abuse, wrongful detention, and violence, while also endangering officers themselves. Clear identification reduces impersonation crimes and helps communities distinguish legitimate law enforcement from bad actors. Transparency protects everyone.

Congress has a responsibility to uphold accountability, safety, and the rule of law. Pass the bicameral VISIBLE Act now and make it clear that in a democracy, no one with a badge operates in the shadows. Sign this petition to demand immediate action.