“Only bad guys wear masks. Knock it off!” Correa Lambasts On Social Media
Text of Legislation (PDF) | View Video Remarks
WASHINGTON — Today, Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) joined his colleagues, Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), in introducing the ‘No Secret Police Act,’ which would require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) engaged in border security and civil immigration enforcement to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals and to ban them from using home-made, non-tactical masks. He released the below video remarks following the announcement.
You can view the full video HERE
“Federal agents in our streets and neighborhoods, wearing masks and acting like bounty hunters. Who are they? Our local police officers don’t wear masks. This is America. Enough is enough!” Correa lambasted on social media Thursday. “Today we just introduced legislation to make it illegal. Only bad guys wear masks. Knock it off!”
The No Secret Police Act would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals. Specifically, the bill would require that DHS officers:
- Are prohibited from wearing face coverings or any item that conceals their face during detentions or arrests.
- Identify the specific component of DHS (e.g., ICE, CBP) they work for.
- Wear or display official insignia or uniforms in a manner clearly visible to others.
The bill also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology and in coordination with relevant departmental components, to conduct research and development to enhance the visibility of law enforcement officers’ official insignia or uniforms. This includes developing technologies that ensure these identifiers remain clearly visible during detentions or arrests, particularly under varying conditions such as different locations, times of day, and weather circumstances.
BACKGROUND: To date, Correa has conducted regular oversight visits to the ICE Field Office in Santa Ana, California. Earlier this month, alongside Reps. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Norma Torres (CA-35), and Luz Rivas (CA-29), Correa was also illegally denied access to the Roybal Federal Building where ICE is reportedly detaining migrant families—including children and pregnant women—under inhumane conditions. This was ahead of the Trump Administration deploying military and National Guard troops to the city without the consent of California’s governor, violating constitutional norms and threatening state sovereignty.
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