Booker Re-Introduces Bill to Block ICE, CBP Officers from Identifying as Local Police

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reintroduced the Combating Deceptive Immigration Enforcement Practices Act to prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) from wearing clothing displaying the word “police.” Companion legislation will be introduced in the House by Representative Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY).

Advocates warn that ICE agents, by displaying the word “police” on their uniforms, routinely cause confusion between their authority and that of local law enforcement, which can result in immigrants allowing federal agents to enter their homes without a warrant. ICE agents cannot enter a home without providing a search or arrest warrant that is signed by a judge. This legislation also seeks to improve cooperation between local police officers and immigrant communities, by increasing transparency and reducing immigrants’ fear of deportation.

“When ICE agents display the word “police” on their uniforms, they blur the line between local law enforcement and immigration agents and confuse immigrant communities,” said Senator Booker. “These misleading interactions erode trust between local law enforcement and the communities they’re supposed to protect, and make it less likely that immigrants will report a crime because they fear deportation. Local law enforcement officers are here to protect and serve, not arrest and deport. It’s important we make that distinction clear.”

“Any attempt by immigration officers to deceivingly pose as local police ought to be prohibited, and that’s why I’m proud to partner with Senator Booker on this legislation,” said Representative Velázquez. “I’ve seen firsthand the negative impacts that these bad-faith tactics of ICE bring to our communities and it certainly doesn’t make things any safer. This is a commonsense bill that I encourage members in both chambers to strongly support.”

Full text of the legislation can be viewed here.

While his time in the Senate, Booker has authored legislation that would end the controversial 287(g) program, which allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to contract with local law enforcement for the purposes of enforcing federal immigration law.