ICE Mask Petition Passes Key Milestone

Calls for immigration agents to 'show their face and identification'

Feb. 16, 2026 at 9:15pm

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A petition urging Congress to require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to display their agency and badge numbers and refrain from using face coverings that conceal their identities during public operations has surpassed 151,000 signatures toward a goal of 200,000.

Why it matters

Supporters argue that requiring visible identification would increase accountability and reduce fear, while critics say it could expose officers to harassment and threats, particularly in sensitive operations.

The details

The petition calls on lawmakers to pass legislation mandating that federal immigration enforcement officers display their agency and badge numbers and not use face coverings that conceal their identities during public operations. Several bills in Congress seek to require ICE officers to show identification and limit the use of face masks.

  • At the time of publication, the petition had garnered 151,167 signatures.
  • The petition is aiming for a goal of 200,000 signatures.

The players

MoveOn

The online platform hosting the petition calling for ICE agents to show their identification.

Senator Alex Padilla

The California Democrat who introduced the Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement Act, which would mandate ICE and CBP officers display their agency and badge numbers.

Todd Lyons

The acting ICE director who has publicly defended the use of masks by agents, citing threats and doxing risks.

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What they’re saying

“ICE agents—without identification—are detaining people in plain clothes and wearing masks—stoking widespread fear, confusion and distrust. This is not normal. And it's not only cowardly, it's dangerous.”

— Petition organizer (MoveOn)

“No secret police. These guys go around—these people go around with masks. It makes them more brutal. They're never accountable. No one even knows who they are. There should be no masks except in the most of unusual circumstances.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader (MS Now)

“I don't like the masks either, but because threats against ICE officers, you know, are up over 1,500 percent—actual assaults and threats are up over 8,000 percent—these men and women have to protect themselves.”

— Tom Homan, White House border czar (CBS News)

What’s next

Several bills in Congress seek to require ICE officers to display identification and limit the use of face coverings during enforcement actions.

The takeaway

This petition highlights the ongoing debate over balancing transparency and public accountability with operational safety concerns for federal immigration enforcement agents.