CAPITOL HILL — IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WOULD BE BARRED from wearing clothing bearing the word “police,” under a bill that Brooklyn Congressmember Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) introduced on Monday, June 9. She and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) explained that the Police not ICE Act of 2025 would prohibit immigration officers from wearing any clothing bearing the word “police” or conflating federal officials with New York law enforcement. The bill would apply to entities like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). The two lawmakers state that by displaying the word “police” on their uniforms, immigration officers blur the line between law enforcement and immigration officials. Critics contend that conflating the two results in immigrants being less likely to cooperate with local law enforcement when there are serious stakes in place.
“New York City is a sanctuary city. We do not align with Trump’s mass deportation agenda,” said Velázquez. “Immigrant residents should feel confident that the NYPD is not working with ICE and can safely report crimes without fear. When federal immigration agents pose as local police, it creates confusion and puts public safety at risk.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-14) is co-sponsoring this bill.
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