Massachusetts lawmakers are pushing back against immigration enforcement tactics with a new bill that would ban ICE agents from wearing masks while making arrests.
State Rep. Jim Hawkins filed the legislation this week. It would make it illegal for immigration agents—and any law enforcement officer—to cover their faces while on the job, unless it’s for health or safety reasons like smoke or disease. If passed, violators could face a misdemeanor charge.
The bill comes after several alarming incidents, including the March arrest of Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk. She was detained on the streets of Somerville by ICE agents who were masked and did not identify themselves.
“This is about transparency,” Hawkins said. “People have a right to know who is arresting them.”
Supporters of the bill say masked officers create fear and confusion in immigrant communities, especially when agents don’t clearly show their badges or identify themselves. Critics argue the practice erodes public trust and blurs the line between legal enforcement and intimidation.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons defended the agency’s use of masks during arrests, saying it’s about protecting his agents.
“I’m not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, family on the line because people don’t like what immigration enforcement is,” Lyons said last month.
ICE has not commented on the proposed ban.
