Harrisburg, PA − November 24, 2025 – As Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents continue to ramp up their efforts to detain and arrest civilians, Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-17, Montgomery/Delaware) and Senator Nikil Saval (D-1, Philadelphia) introduced legislation that will prohibit law enforcement agents from using face coverings to conceal their identities while acting within the scope of their duties in Pennsylvania.
Senate Bill 1071 seeks to reestablish a broken public trust in legitimate law enforcement and discourage bad actors from impersonating law enforcement and further harming Pennsylvania communities.
“Our Commonwealth depends on immigrants—many of whom are Hispanic and Latino—for the vitality of our economy, the strength of our communities, and the richness of our culture. To target people based on appearance, language, or heritage under the guise of ‘law enforcement’ is nothing more than state-sanctioned intimidation. Armed agents, often without clear and visible identification, conducting indiscriminate raids are not making our country safer—they’re deepening division,” Senator Cappelletti said. “ICE has become a symbol of government overreach, and its agents’ actions are a betrayal of our core democratic values. Their unprecedented use of masked policing is not just misguided, it is an intentional attempt to reshape America through fear and scapegoating.”
Since the beginning of 2025, 20 people have died in ICE custody, marking the year as the deadliest for ICE detentions since 2005. In Pennsylvania alone, the state houses approximately 13,850 ICE detainees, with 2,370 being held in solitary confinement—the second highest rate following that in Texas. Additionally, ProPublica has reported findings indicating that Immigration agents have held upwards of 170 U.S. citizens this year, including combat veterans who have served our nation.
“The presence of heavily armed, masked, unidentifiable individuals roaming our public spaces, work sites, and residential blocks—kidnapping people off the streets and disappearing our neighbors—breeds terror and chaos in our communities and makes all of us less safe,” Senator Saval said. “We must reassert the rights we all hold dear as residents of Pennsylvania: to dignity, to safety, and to due process. The No Secret Police Legislation is a step in the right direction, requiring a floor for transparency between officers and the communities they serve.”
While ICE agents continue to execute dangerous raids and arrests nationwide, their reach extends deep into Pennsylvania communities, including the districts that Senator Cappelletti and Senator Saval represent.
In Senator Cappelletti’s district, multiple Norristown residents publicly expressed their fears and concerns about ICE activity this month, which they say have been heightened, especially after unidentifiable federal agents arrested 14 community members at a West Norriton supermarket in July.
“We are now in a position where we are terrified, not only for ourselves, but also for our children, and what’s happening in our community here, a community that I have been in for many, many years,” said one resident, as reported in The Times Herald.“I have raised my kids here, and now we’re seeing that there have been large impacts of fear.”
In Philadelphia, confusion, fear, and anger among neighbors continue to rise as ICE agents detain immigrants following the federal government’s direction. And while these arrests by masked agents continue, there have been several reported crimes in the city in which civilians impersonate federal ICE agents to commit other crimes. In February 2025, a Temple University student impersonated an ICE agent to enter residence halls, and in June 2025, a 54-year-old man impersonated an ICE agent to steal $1,000 from an automobile shop.
“Senator Nikil Saval and I recognize masked policing only erodes public trust in our law enforcement agencies and encourages bad actors to impersonate law enforcement officials and commit heinous crimes,” Senator Cappelletti said. “That’s why we introduced legislation to require proper identification for law enforcement operating in Pennsylvania.”
Key provisions within Senators Cappelletti and Saval’s legislation include:
- Mandatory Identification: Law enforcement officers and agents acting within the scope of their duties must wear clearly visible identification that includes:
- A badge with name, badge number, and department or agency, and,
- A department or agency-issued uniform.
- Prohibition on Masking: Officers and agents acting within the scope of their duties may not wear masks, facial coverings, or other garments that obscure their identity.
Criminal Penalties: Officers and agents who violate these provisions will be subject to criminal penalties.
Civil Penalties: Failure to identify or concealment of identity may be grounds for a civil cause of action.
Appropriate exceptions are also considered within the bill, including:
- Surgical or N95 respirators designed to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases, and,
- Undercover officers or agents investigating serious criminal conduct.
Several other states, including New York and Massachusetts, have introduced similar legislation that would require federal agents to wear identifying information. California also introduced a like bill, which was signed into law in September. On the federal level, Senate Democrats introduced the VISIBLE Act to require all immigration enforcement officers to display visible identification.
“Elected officials play a vital role in ensuring trust, communication, and transparency are upheld as pillars of community safety. ICE has been given a budget larger than most of the world’s militaries to conduct raids, arrests, and detentions in communities across the country, and it’s up to individual states to evolve our public safety measures commensurately,” said Senator Saval. “By passing this legislation, Pennsylvania would send a clear message: we will not allow practices that prime our communities for abuse of power. We need efforts of this kind across the country.”
Fellow Pennsylvania Senate Democrats have signed on to support this legislation:
Senator Maria Collett (D-12, Montgomery): “There can be no question that the militarized raids we have witnessed in grocery stores, apartment complexes and street corners are a betrayal of our shared American values. When masked agents target hardworking members of our community, not dangerous criminals as they claim, we will not remain silent. I am proud to support legislation to improve transparency, safety and public trust.”
Senator Vincent Hughes (D-7, Philadelphia/Montgomery): “This is commonsense legislation that will uphold the rule of law and order in Pennsylvania. We want our communities to trust and feel safe around law enforcement. By allowing any officer of the law to obscure their identity, we are eroding that trust and opening the door for bad actors to masquerade themselves and take advantage of the chaotic approach ICE agents have been using.”
Senator John Kane (D-9, Delaware/Chester): “Our Commonwealth and our Country should never become comfortable with masked, unidentified groups taking people from their homes, schools, or right off the street. Lawful investigations and arrests in the United States must be performed by properly identified law enforcement officers. This legislation is about accountability, transparency, and public safety. It also continues past practice of law enforcement displaying their badge and name on their uniform. We have required this for centuries and it is important that we continue this policy. Every Pennsylvanian deserves to know that when someone with a badge approaches them, that badge is real, that name is visible, and that officer is acting under the law. We hold our police and all stewards of the law to these standards, and we should expect no less from anyone operating within our borders.”
Senator Tim Kearney (D-26, Delaware): “Transparency and accountability are key to protecting our communities against federal overreach and unlawful arrests. By requiring ICE agents to clearly identify themselves, this legislation strengthens public trust and protects both residents and law enforcement alike.”
Senator Sharif Street (D-3, Philadelphia): “For too long, ICE has operated with little transparency or accountability, often sowing fear in immigrant communities. When law enforcement officers can hide their identities, it undermines public trust and opens the door to abuse. Every person in Pennsylvania deserves to know who is enforcing the law in their neighborhood. This legislation brings needed sunlight to the process and ensures that our government treats everyone with fairness and dignity.”
Senator Tina Tartaglione (D-2, Philadelphia): “Public safety depends on trust, and that trust begins with transparency. No law enforcement officer should be permitted to hide their identity while carrying out official duties. Criminals are posing as ICE officers because ICE is currently operating like a secret police. How can citizens know if a masked person with a gun is a federal agent or a criminal? I fear not only for the safety of our citizens, but also the ICE officers who are put into unnecessarily dangerous and chaotic situations. This bill ensures that those entrusted to uphold the law can be clearly identified, protecting both our communities and law enforcement personnel. I co-sponsored this legislation because Pennsylvanians deserve accountability from every person who wears a badge.”
Senator Lindsey Williams (D-38, Allegheny): “I’ve heard from many constituents who are terrified of the masked ICE agents who are carrying out raids that sow fear and tear apart families and communities. Pennsylvanians deserve better than this. We deserve immigration policy that is created and carried out with fairness, compassion, and respect for human dignity. Until we can stop federal police forces from kidnapping our neighbors without warrants, this is a small first step that we are able to take on the state level to protect communities and add some accountability to the system.”
Supporters of this legislative initiative can reach out to their Pennsylvania State Senators to ask them to sign on in support of Senate Bill 1071. Find out who your state Senator is here.
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