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Floor Speech

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Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act of 2025, which I am proud to lead alongside Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey.

This legislation would require immigration enforcement officers-- including Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel, Federal agents detailed to immigration operations, and deputized State or local officers--to wear clearly visible identification during public-facing civil immigration enforcement actions. The identification must include the officer's Agency name or initials and either their name or badge number, displayed in a way that remains legible and unobscured by tactical gear or clothing.

The bill prohibits nonmedical face coverings, such as masks or balaclavas, that obscure an officer's face or impair the visibility of required identifying information, except when necessary for environmental hazards or covert operations. It also directs DHS to establish disciplinary procedures for violations, requires annual compliance reporting to Congress, and empowers the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to investigate public complaints and recommend corrective action.

In recent years, civil immigration enforcement operations have increasingly featured officers wearing unmarked tactical gear and concealing clothing, with no visible indication of their Agency affiliation or personal identity. These tactics have sown confusion, fear, and mistrust, especially in immigrant communities already subjected to heightened scrutiny. In some cases, members of the public could not even confirm whether they were interacting with legitimate government officials.

This lack of transparency is not only dangerous for the public but also for law enforcement. When officers are indistinguishable from impersonators, the risk of escalation in high-stress encounters increases. By requiring visible identification, the VISIBLE Act helps promote professionalism, improve accountability, and reduce the risk of mistaken identity or misuse of Federal authority.

The bill's approach is narrow and balanced. It does not interfere with covert operations, criminal enforcement actions, or necessary officer protections. Instead, it simply ensures that during public- facing civil immigration enforcement actions, officers can be identified. This is a commonsense safeguard--similar to policies that local police and other Federal Agencies already implement themselves-- and one that will help rebuild public trust in Federal immigration operations.

I am grateful to Senator Booker for his partnership on this legislation, and for his continued leadership on issues of fairness and accountability in our immigration and criminal justice systems. At a time when immigration enforcement practices are under intense national scrutiny, we must ensure that our policies reflect not only authority, but integrity. The VISIBLE Act helps meet that standard.

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