PROVIDENCE, RI -- Yesterday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents attempted to wrongfully abduct a Rhode Island Superior Court intern and high school student who the agents misidentified. They also apparently broke the rules of the Licht Judicial Complex and reportedly surrounded a judge’s car, demanding everyone exit the vehicle and threatening to smash in windows if the vehicle’s occupants did not comply -- and were confronted by the head of Security Operations for R.I. Superior Court. The ICE agents did not release the intern until Superior Court Judge Joseph McBurney intervened by correctly noting ICE had the wrong person.

Condemning the negligence of these ICE agents and the agency’s troubling pattern of unlawfully detaining U.S. citizens nationwide, U.S. Senator Jack Reed condemned the incident, stating:

“The Trump Administration refuses to accept we’re a nation of laws with a constitution that provide all of us with rights. Trump and his team’s tactics are jeopardizing public trust and public safety. Innocent people are being wrongfully targeted. We should not accept a bunch of masked armed individuals running rampant, ignoring the rules, and threatening innocent students and judges as routine law enforcement. Every day law enforcement across our state don their uniforms and display their badges proudly. The leadership of ICE and any unprofessional field agents must be held accountable for this type of outrageous incident. The pattern of too many ICE agents committing civil rights abuses and disregarding the law is very disturbing. We have to protect everyone’s rights and legal obligations. Failing to speak out against escalating authoritarian immigration enforcement tactics only invites the further use of these tactics against more Americans and the erosion of due process.”

Journalists have uncovered dozens of cases nationwide where U.S citizens, including children, have been unlawfully swept up in ICE raids and held for days or weeks without legal recourse.

Senator Reed is cosponsoring legislation to address a growing concern of Homeland Security-controlled field agents engaging with the public while wearing unmarked tactical gear and concealing clothing that obscures both their agency affiliation and personal identity. Without visible badges, names, or insignia, members of the public often have no way to confirm whether they are interacting with legitimate government or law enforcement officials. Indeed, the FBI put out an official bulletin warning of criminals dressed and acting like immigration enforcement to commit violence and theft.

“The utter lack of transparency set by the Trump administration endangers public safety by causing confusion, fear, and mistrust. It also puts everyone at risk – including the targeted individuals, ICE officers, and bystanders who may misunderstand what is happening and attempt to intervene, as well as local law enforcement who may be called to the scene. This is a real law enforcement worry since even the FBI put out a bulletin on how criminals are now dressing and acting like these immigration patrols,” noted Reed.

Senator Reed is a cosponsor of the VISIBLE Act (S.2212), which would require immigration officers, including DHS personnel (such as CBP/ICE), federal agents, and deputized state or local officers engaged in immigration operations to display clearly visible identification during public-facing enforcement action. Led by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) the bill would:

  • Require offices to display clearly legible identification – including their agency name or initials and either their name or badge number;
  • Prohibit non-medical face coverings (such as ski masks or balaclavas), with some exceptions; and
  • Require DHS to establish disciplinary procedures for violations.

The Immigration Enforcement Identification Safety (IEIS) Act (S.2594), led by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) seeks to enhance the safety of the public and law enforcement by specifically requiring any officer or agent conducting immigration enforcement operations, including any Federal or non-federal law enforcement officers, to:

  • Visibly display their name and unique identifier and the name of their law enforcement organization;
  • Visibly display their face; and
  • Provides reimbursement privacy-enhancing services to thwart doxxing attempts.

Both bills make exceptions to ensure the safety of federal agents, including allowances for covert action.