Lawmaker files Florida bill that would order ICE officers to identify themselves, ban face masks
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two Florida lawmakers introduced legislation on Thursday that would require law enforcement and immigration officers to display visible identification and ban face coverings during public enforcement actions.
State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) and Representative Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville) filed what they call “The VISIBLE Act.” They said the bill aims to reduce tension between law enforcement and Florida communities by eliminating masks that shield officers’ identities and limit accountability.
“Safer communities are stronger communities. Allowing law enforcement and immigration officers to mask their identities erases transparency, exacerbates already difficult and dangerous situations, and does nothing to keep our communities safe,” Nixon said. “I’m fighting for transparency and accountability with our law enforcement by ensuring proper identification of our officers. This common-sense measure protects officers doing their jobs and ensures that the general public is not tricked by bad actors wishing to inflict harm on people by abusing the systems meant to keep us all safe.”
The bill would require officers to display visible identification, including agency name and badge number, during public immigration enforcement efforts. It would also prohibit face coverings that hide officers’ identities, except in specific circumstances such as undercover work or hazardous environmental conditions.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has voiced support for face coverings, saying officers sometimes need them to protect their identities in dangerous situations.
“With a rise in violence that we continue to see against these officers, with that 1,000% increase, it’s making sure that they are safe while they do this job, and that they get home to their families,” Noem said during an August news conference.
But lawmakers insist “The VISIBLE Act” focuses on transparency.
“While Florida remains the front lines of Trump’s extreme deportation agenda, the public deserves transparency from those conducting immigration-enforcement activities in our communities. Officers should not be able to grab people off the street while hiding behind a mask. The use of this draconian tactic has led to several incidents of criminals posing as ICE officers committing robberies, kidnapping, and sexual assault. SB 316 is a simple, commonsense step to protect civil liberties, strengthen public trust in law enforcement, and ensure accountability in immigration enforcement,” Smith said.
In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a similar law banning ICE agents and most law enforcement officers from wearing masks to conceal their identities.
News4JAX contacted the Department of Homeland Security and the Republican Party of Florida for comment and is still awaiting responses.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and DHS released a statement saying, “USCIS is implementing rigorous screening and vetting protocols and actively assisting ICE and other law enforcement partners to enforce immigration law and protect public safety.”
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