A group of Democratic senators, led by Cory Booker and Alex Padilla, introduced legislation Tuesday that would ban ICE agents from wearing face masks while on duty—except for medical reasons. The bill would also require ICE officers to display clear identification, such as their agency affiliation and either a badge number or name, especially during operations like arrests or raids involving undocumented migrants.

The bill was introduced in response to recent footage showing ICE agents detaining individuals while wearing masks and plain clothes, creating confusion over their identity. Senator Padilla argued that this lack of transparency undermines public safety, particularly in immigrant communities already wary of law enforcement. He added that it’s difficult for people to verify whether they’re interacting with legitimate government officials.

However, critics of the bill—especially within ICE—warn that such a change would put agents at risk. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons defended the current policy, pointing out past instances where ICE officers were doxxed and received death threats after being publicly identified. He emphasized that protecting agents’ identities is a matter of life and family safety, not concealment.

The legislation comes amid heightened tensions and two recent shootings targeting ICE facilities in Texas. Former Trump immigration official Tom Homan blamed escalating violence on anti-ICE rhetoric from Democratic politicians, accusing some of comparing ICE to terrorists or Nazis. He warned this narrative emboldens violent fringe actors.

ICE has not formally responded to the bill, but security at ICE and Border Patrol facilities has reportedly been elevated in response to recent threats.