Bill Summary
The "No Secret Police Act of 2025" aims to enhance transparency and accountability among law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) who are involved in border security and immigration enforcement. The key provisions of the bill require these officers to visibly display their official insignia and wear identifiable uniforms when detaining or arresting individuals. Furthermore, they must provide identification that specifies their component within DHS.
The legislation prohibits officers from wearing face-covering items that conceal their identities while engaged in enforcement actions. It also mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to produce initial and subsequent reports on policies regarding the use of tactical gear by these officers, ensuring that any changes are communicated to Congress.
Additionally, the bill calls for research and development to improve the visibility of officers' insignia and uniforms during enforcement activities, taking into account various situational factors such as time of day and weather conditions. Overall, the act seeks to prevent the perception of secretive law enforcement practices and protect the rights of individuals during immigration and border-related enforcement actions.
Possible Impacts
The "No Secret Police Act of 2025" could affect people in several ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Transparency and Accountability**: The legislation mandates that law enforcement officers and agents involved in border security and immigration enforcement display their official insignia and provide identification. This requirement is likely to increase transparency during detentions and arrests, allowing individuals to clearly identify the authority figures involved. It may lead to greater accountability for law enforcement actions, as individuals will have the ability to report misconduct or abuse by identifiable officers.
2. **Enhanced Safety for Individuals**: By requiring officers to wear visible identification and insignia, the law aims to reduce the likelihood of unlawful detentions by unidentifiable individuals posing as law enforcement. This could help protect vulnerable populations, such as immigrants and asylum seekers, from exploitation or intimidation by individuals who may not have legitimate authority, thus fostering a sense of safety in communities where these interactions occur.
3. **Impact on Law Enforcement Operations**: The legislation may alter how law enforcement agencies conduct operations related to immigration enforcement. Officers will need to ensure that they are in compliance with the new identification requirements, potentially affecting their tactical approaches. This could lead to changes in operational protocols, training, and equipment, which may have implications for their effectiveness in quickly responding to incidents or emergencies, and could also influence public perception of law enforcement agencies.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4176 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4176
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require law enforcement
officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security engaged in
border security or immigration enforcement to display or wear certain
insignia and provide identification, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 26, 2025
Mr. Goldman of New York (for himself, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Thompson of
Mississippi, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Norton, Mr. Castro of Texas,
Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Wilson of
Florida, Ms. Simon, Ms. Salinas, Mr. Carson, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Kennedy
of New York, Ms. Brown, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms.
Ansari, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Gomez, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Tlaib,
Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Bell, Mr. Swalwell, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Krishnamoorthi,
Mr. Correa, Mr. Min, Mr. Tran, Mr. Casten, Ms. Brownley, Ms. Rivas, Ms.
Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms. Balint, Mr. Landsman, Ms. Sanchez, Ms.
DeGette, and Mr. Garcia of Illinois) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in
addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require law enforcement
officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security engaged in
border security or immigration enforcement to display or wear certain
insignia and provide identification, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``No Secret Police Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. INSIGNIA AND IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS AND AGENTS ENGAGED IN BORDER SECURITY OR
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
(a) In General.--Title VII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``SEC. 714. INSIGNIA AND IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS AND AGENTS ENGAGED IN BORDER SECURITY OR
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
``(a) Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--If a law enforcement officer or agent of
the Department detains or arrests an individual in connection
with a border security or immigration enforcement function of
such officer or agent, during such detention or arrest, as the
case may be, such officer or agent--
``(A) shall--
``(i) provide such individual with an
identification of the component of the
Department that employs such officer or agent;
and
``(ii) display or wear the official
insignia or uniform of such officer or agent in
a manner that is visible to individuals other
than such officer or agent; and
``(B) may not wear a face covering or any other
item that conceals the face of such officer or agent.
``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may
be construed to limit or prohibit the use of tactical gear by
law enforcement officers and agents consistent with the
policies and procedures of the Department.
``(3) Reports.--
``(A) Initial report.--Not later than 30 days after
the date of the enactment of this section, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
of the Senate a report on the policies and procedures
of the Department regarding the use of tactical gear by
law enforcement officers and agents of the Department.
``(B) Updates.--If the Secretary modifies the
policies or procedures of the Department regarding the
use of tactical gear by law enforcement officers or
agents of the Department, not later than 30 days after
any such modification, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report
relating thereto.
``(b) Research and Development.--The Secretary, acting through the
Under Secretary for Science and Technology, and in coordination with
the heads of components of the Department that employ law enforcement
officers or agents, shall carry out research and development of
technology to maximize the visibility of the official insignia or
uniform of such an officer or agent to be utilized during detentions or
arrests, including technology to maximize such visibility in response
to certain factors in connection with such detentions or arrests,
including the following:
``(1) Location.
``(2) Time of day.
``(3) Weather.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Law enforcement officer or agent.--The term `law
enforcement officer or agent' means a law enforcement officer
or agent of the Department, including U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement.
``(2) Official insignia or uniform.--The term `official
insignia or uniform' has the meaning given such term in section
716 of title 18, United States Code.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 713 the following new item:
``Sec. 714. Insignia and identification required for law enforcement
officers and agents engaged in border
security or immigration enforcement.''.
<all>