Overview
- The FBI says criminals are exploiting ICE’s higher profile during stepped-up enforcement to target vulnerable people with kidnappings, assaults and robberies.
- The bulletin details cases including an August New York restaurant robbery, an April Florida kidnapping, a February Brooklyn attempted rape and a January North Carolina sexual assault.
- Federal, state and local officers are advised to adequately identify themselves and to cooperate with requests to verify identities, including allowing calls to local precincts.
- The document was obtained by Property of the People through a public records request after ICE operations drew attention for masked and unmarked officers.
- Critics argue masks and missing insignia fuel confusion and enable impersonation, while a bill from Rep. Adriano Espaillat would require visible identification and ban masks as some officials cite safety concerns.