Overview
- The law-enforcement bulletin, obtained by Property of the People and first reported by WIRED, cites at least five 2025 incidents where suspects posed as immigration officers to commit robberies, kidnappings, or sexual assaults.
- The cases include a January 29 North Carolina arrest tied to a motel sexual assault, a February 13 Brooklyn attack that led to rape and robbery charges, and an April 21 alleged kidnapping in Panama City Beach, Florida.
- Additional reports in the document describe an April 14 online impersonator in New York and an August 7 restaurant robbery in which three suspects dressed in black claimed to be immigration officers.
- The FBI advises visible identification during operations when possible, urges agencies to let civilians verify credentials through official channels, and lists red flags such as forged badges, outdated uniforms, and cloned vehicle decals.
- Reason notes the bureau has not addressed the bulletin publicly, as media and advocacy groups spotlight a broader rise in impersonation reports and renew debate over masks and unmarked vehicles, which DHS defends as officer-safety measures.