When law enforcement officers in the United States wear masks, it raises alarm and dread. This disturbing trend has drawn an outcry from past administration officials and legislators alike. Mike German, a former FBI agent with over a decade of experience going undercover in extremist groups, pointed out that this general practice in law enforcement is a first. Federal officers are putting on masks more often during immigration raids, at public protests, and even in public buildings. This undermines the public trust and the integrity of law enforcement agencies.
Recent circumstances surrounding Los Angeles have catapulted this issue front and center. Body camera footage reveals federal officers conspicuously appearing in masks, neck gators, sunglasses and hats while conducting operations. These officers often refuse to identify themselves, raising questions about accountability and transparency. German, now a senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, made a dire prediction. Violating sacred trust He worries that these practices will have devastating legacy effects, creating a deep and wide loss of faith in law enforcement institutions in communities.
When it’s hard to tell who a masked individual is working for, it’s hard to accept that that is a legitimate use of authority, German stated. His comments underscore the growing concerns of the public and advocates. They worry that the anonymity provided by masks might lead to increased abuses of power and erosion of democratic norms.
The increase in criminalization of masking stems partly from, and serves to counteract, important reforms in policing. These changes were implemented in reaction to the attacks of September 11, 2001. Other laws paved the way for massive, warrantless, dragnet surveillance and enhanced the capabilities of federal law enforcement agencies. German warned that the widely adopted practice of “proactive masking” is a grave danger. It represents a larger, alarming trend of increased removal from democratic oversight in policing.
The implications of masked officers are especially troubling given the recent violence aimed at politicians. Weighing the tragic shootings of two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota have raised some very real fears. Others worry what dangers come about when police officers don’t have visible counterparts. With reports indicating that some officers have obscured their identities during sensitive operations, the need for accountability has never been more critical.
A growing concern has led at least five Democratic U.S. senators to push for action. They are demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) set tougher guidelines so that agents without uniforms or agency identification be reported and masks be discontinued. Further, California legislators have introduced a bill at the state level to ban police from wearing masks while on duty. These same initiatives are an encouraging sign of a growing realization of the need for transparency and accountability within policing.
The problem has been getting more attention, thanks in part to recent high-profile incidents. Perhaps none of those moments was more dramatic than the arrest of New York City comptroller Brad Lander by ICE and FBI agents outside federal immigration court on June 17, 2025. Incidents such as these demonstrate the dire requirement to easily identify law enforcement officers during intervention. This clarity is particularly important when their actions come under public scrutiny.
German pointed out that during his career he followed very regimented protocols when directing interviews for evidentiary purposes. “When I would write up an interview for evidentiary purposes, I would always identify myself and let the interviewee know the purpose of the interview,” he explained. This principle of transparency stands in stark opposition to the growing trend of masking perpetrated by law enforcement.
Under the Trump administration, personnel from federal agencies such as FBI, DEA, and ATF were redirected to bolster ICE operations. This change has made the short-term picture even more confusing. As federal resources are increasingly funneled into immigration enforcement, the tactics used by local ICE officers have come under fire.