As leftists have vilified federal immigration officers, an FBI bulletin reminded officials to follow identification policies amid a rash of alleged crimes committed by impersonators.
Sweeping efforts at mass deportation under the direction of President Donald Trump’s administration continue to be met with violent protests and coordinated efforts to expose the identities of agents for harassment and worse.
While law enforcement officials have taken to wearing masks to protect themselves and their families, an Oct. 17 FBI bulletin reported by WIRED detailed how agents are encouraged to provide civilians with their identity when possible after kidnappings, robberies and sexual assaults allegedly had been committed by criminals claiming to be U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Opposition was just one clue detailed by a former agent to identify an imposter.
“Ensure law enforcement personnel [adequately] identify themselves during operations and cooperate with individuals who request further verification,” the bulletin obtained by Property of the People through a public-records request stated in part, as five incidents of criminal impersonators were cited.
A case from Aug. 7 included three men in black vests claiming to be ICE agents who allegedly robbed an ATM at a New York City restaurant after tying an employee’s hands and covering his head with a garbage bag
In Brooklyn, a man allegedly identified himself as an immigration officer before he “directed [a woman] to a nearby stairwell” before punching her, attempting to rape her, and stole her phone. A woman in Florida allegedly showed her ex-boyfriend’s wife she was wearing a “shirt that said ICE” before taking the victim to an apartment complex from which the victim later escaped. Additionally, a man in North Carolina allegedly told a woman he was a law enforcement officer, going as far as to show her a business card with a badge, when he “entered [a] motel room and threatened to deport the woman if she did not have sex with him.”
Speaking with WIRED, a senior ICE official expressed, “Anyone caught impersonating themselves as a federal immigration agent will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Impersonating a federal immigration officer endangers public safety and erodes trust in law enforcement.”
The FBI had said, “Due to the recent increase in ICE enforcement actions across the country, criminal actors are using ICE’s enhanced public profile and media coverage to their advantage to target vulnerable communities.”
“Let’s be honest about these crooks,” retired FBI Special Agent Jason Pack told Fox News Digital. “They are slicker than a boiled onion and about as trustworthy as a snake oil salesman. They hide behind fake badges and phony authority, hoping folks will be too scared to ask questions.”
“That kind of behavior tears down public trust and puts real law enforcement officers in harm’s way. Anyone caught pretending to be an officer should be prosecuted and put so far under the jail they’ll need sunlight mailed in, and I mean that in the most lawful sense,” he went on. Pack also indicated that he encouraged the public to ask to see a badge and photo ID, “Real officers will never ask for money, gift cards or favors. They will not get upset if you ask to verify who they are. They want you to feel safe and know you’re dealing with the real thing.”
In its own statement to Fox News Digital, the FBI contended, “Our standard practice is not to comment on information we may share with our law enforcement partners. However, we regularly share information to assist in protecting the communities we all serve. The FBI always encourages members of the public to be vigilant and report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
- Vietnamese man hits Mayor Jacob Frey with ‘TRUTH NUKE’ for bowing to ‘crooked-a** Somali pirates’ - December 6, 2025
- ‘He’s slow’: Family insists Jan 6 pipe bomb suspect is NOT a Trump supporter, questions his involvement - December 6, 2025
- MTG now beloved by media — next up is ’60 Minutes’ - December 6, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.