This bill adds a new subsection (287(i)) to the Immigration and Nationality Act. It requires "covered immigration officers" — including CBP and ICE officers and others authorized to enforce immigration law (including under 287(g) or similar agreements) — to wear visible identification during public-facing immigration enforcement actions. "Public immigration enforcement function" covers patrols, stops, arrests, searches, interviews to determine immigration status, raids, checkpoint inspections, and service of warrants, but does not include covert or non-public operations.
The required visible identification must show the officer's agency (full name or widely recognized initials) and either the officer's last name or unique badge/ID number. The agency label must be legible from at least 25 feet and visible in daylight and low-light conditions. The name or badge number must be readable during direct engagement with the public. Identification must be on the outermost garment or gear and not obscured by equipment or accessories. Non-medical face coverings that hide the identification or the officer's face are not allowed except when necessary to protect a covert operation or to guard against hazardous environmental conditions.
The Secretary of Homeland Security must ensure administrative discipline for officers who fail to comply. The Secretary must also submit an annual report (starting within one year of enactment) to the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and specified congressional committees with: the total number of public enforcement functions, the number of documented noncompliance instances, and a summary of disciplinary or remedial actions. The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties will receive and investigate public complaints about violations, issue recommendations to DHS components, include findings in its annual public report, and may coordinate with the DHS Office of Inspector General as appropriate.
No publicly available information about costs or appropriations is included in the bill text.
The bill text states that proponents view visible identification and transparency as essential to public trust and accountability. It asserts that officers should be identifiable during civil enforcement activities that the public can observe, except when operations are legitimately covert.
No publicly available information about opposition or arguments against the bill is included in the bill text or provided metadata.