Authorities are warning about crimes being committed by individuals masquerading as ICE officials. The FBI recently put out a warning about individuals posing with firearms and police car stickers who have been pretending to be Immigration and Customs officials to kidnap and assault victims. They’re preying on the innocent because ICE is more prominent than it used to be.
How criminal impostors exploit ICE’s enhanced public profile
What is revealed in the FBI bulletin for October is a troubling trend for criminals to take advantage of the enforcement actions by ICE across the nation. These bogus individuals are clearly exploiting the newfound visibility of this agency for their own purposes, causing havoc for vulnerable communities. What these offenders tend to focus on is impersonating ICE agents due to confusion caused by aggressive enforcement strategies with masked operations.
This federal bulletin, which Property of the People recently acquired through a public records request, explains how these impersonations undermine the confidence between law enforcement and communities. The FBI makes it clear that these crimes not only affect victims but also have negative effects on all law enforcement agencies operating in these communities.
Recent cases of impersonation
- August 2025: Restaurant robbery in New York with staff members bound
- April 2025: Kidnapping in Florida involving a woman and a bogus agent
- February 2025: Brooklyn assault and attempted rape
- January 2025: Sexual Assault at NC Hotel
The practice by actual ICE agents to wear masks during operations has made it impossible for ordinary individuals to discern between actual law enforcers and bogus offenders. Such a situation allows offenders to mask their identities and exploit vulnerable groups.
Violent crimes increase when scammers pretend to be agents
The FBI bulletin explains that there have been five instances where offenders have managed to dress up like ICE agents and carry out violent crimes. In August, for example, three men robbed a restaurant in New York, tying up employees. Their immediate victims surrendered because they believed the robbers were indeed ICE agents.
What is even more alarming is that these crimes include both rape and kidnapping. During April, a woman in Florida was kidnapped after she agreed to leave with a man who claimed to be with ICE, only escaping when she was taken to an apartment complex. During January, a man entered a woman’s hotel room in North Carolina and raped her, then threatened her with deportation if she did not do what he asked.
As a result, due to “the recent rise in ICE enforcement actions across the country, criminal actors are using ICE’s current high profile in the media to their advantage to target vulnerable communities and engage in criminal activity.” — FBI bulletin
What the FBI recommends to prevent future impersonations
The FBI is now urging all law enforcement organizations to properly identify themselves during operations and to work with persons requesting further verification. This includes allowing callers to phone their local police station if they request to confirm officer identities. The FBI is specifically advising law enforcers to clearly identify themselves, without which criminals would exploit their operations.
Critics suggest that with the masks hiding their identities and no obvious law enforcement insignia, opportunities for harmful impersonations exist, but it also protects real law enforcement members. Representative Adriano Espaillat has proposed legislation that would preclude law enforcers from wearing masks and require law enforcement insignia.
The FBI alert is a significant recognition that current practices by ICE are opening up dangerous opportunities for criminal activity. With increasing enforcement levels concerning immigration matters, it is only going to become harder for law enforcement to distinguish between those who are genuine and those who mean harm. Tips by the bureau on improving identification procedures can ensure safety for vulnerable populations without undermining law enforcement activities.