WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Criminals posing as U.S. immigration officers have carried out robberies, kidnappings, and sexual assaults in several states, according to a recent FBI law enforcement bulletin. The bureau warns that these impersonations are spreading fear in immigrant communities and eroding public trust in law enforcement.
The FBI’s advisory, first reported by WIRED, highlights at least five incidents in 2025 involving fake Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The bureau says these crimes exploit ICE’s heightened public profile, making it harder for people to tell real officers from criminals. The bulletin urges law enforcement agencies to clearly identify themselves and cooperate when civilians ask for verification.
“Ensure law enforcement personnel adequately identify themselves during operations and cooperate with individuals who request further verification,” the FBI wrote.
The bureau’s Office of Partner Engagement and New York Field Office prepared the advisory, which calls for agencies nationwide to coordinate to “verify legitimate versus non-legitimate operations.”
In one case described by the FBI, three men wearing black vests stormed a New York restaurant pretending to be ICE agents. They tied a worker’s hands, covered their head with a garbage bag, and robbed an ATM. In Florida, a woman wearing an “ICE” shirt kidnapped her ex-boyfriend’s wife before the victim escaped. In Brooklyn, a man claiming to be an immigration officer assaulted a woman and stole her phone.
In another case in North Carolina, a man entered a motel room, threatened to deport a woman if she refused sex, and showed a fake badge and business card. The FBI says criminals often use fake badges, outdated gear, or cloned ICE vehicle markings to fool victims. The bureau urges agencies to run outreach programs to help communities recognize legitimate officers and report impersonators.
A senior ICE official told WIRED that anyone caught pretending to be an immigration officer “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” The agency insists that its real agents identify themselves properly.
However, the growing use of masked and unmarked ICE officers has sparked public concern. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended mask use, calling it a safety measure. “They wear masks to protect their identities from dangerous situations,” she said.
DHS officials say agents still identify themselves verbally, even while masked. “Our officers clearly identify themselves while wearing masks to protect themselves and their families,” said Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs.
Critics disagree. They argue that hiding faces and badges undermines accountability and encourages criminals to imitate federal agents. Barry Friedman, director of NYU’s Policing Project, said, “Public safety depends on trust. That’s impossible when officers conceal their identities.”
Civil rights groups say federal enforcement practices have long eroded trust in immigrant communities. Alycia Castillo of the Texas Civil Rights Project said that masked federal raids “disrupt and erode public trust in law enforcement.” Jeff Migliozzi of Freedom for Immigrants called impersonations a symptom of a deeper problem. “The root issue is that these agencies have lost the public’s trust,” he said.
Jeramie Scott of the Electronic Privacy Information Center said the current administration’s actions have worsened the problem. “When masked agents snatch people off the street, it creates conditions for impersonators to exploit,” he said.
Some states are moving to stop federal agents from concealing their identities. In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the No Secret Police Act, which bans “extreme masking” during most arrests. Seattle is considering a similar ordinance that would require visible agency emblems, with fines up to $5,000 for violations.
Supporters say these laws protect both civilians and officers by reducing confusion. “When a person being arrested cannot identify who is detaining them, they may fear kidnapping and resist,” said Faiza Patel of the Brennan Center for Justice.
In one recent case, police in Fife, Washington, charged a man for posing as an ICE officer in a YouTube prank. The man, 27-year-old Ilya Kukhar, drove a car labeled “S.U. Department of ICE Deliveries” and filmed himself at a grocery store. He later told investigators it was all “allegedly” a joke. The city dismissed the case after Kukhar completed community service and issued a written apology.
