(NEVADA) Immigrant advocacy groups from Nevada to Connecticut are stepping up pressure on lawmakers and federal agencies, calling for stronger data protections and formal investigations into the growing use of masked law enforcement officers during immigration operations. Their campaign has gathered force in 2025, as community groups warn that new federal databases and secretive enforcement tactics are spreading fear through mixed‑status families and putting basic civil rights at risk.
Nevada: local push and proposed limits on masked agents
In Nevada, the Nevada Immigrant Coalition is at the center of this push. The group has urged state legislators to back a proposal that would ban U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings during operations in the state and would restrict how Nevada agencies share personal information with federal immigration authorities.
Organizers say they have documented cases of ICE agents arriving in plain clothes with their faces covered, leaving families unsure who is at their door and whether an arrest is lawful. Advocates report these encounters generate confusion, fear, and lasting mistrust of public institutions.
Data collection, SNAP, and the July 23, 2025 deadline
At the heart of the debate is how government agencies collect, store, and share personal data. Advocates point to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as a prime example.
A new SNAP database routine — which sets out how applicant household information can be shared and used — is scheduled to take effect on July 23, 2025, unless it is changed following public comments. Groups working with low‑income immigrant families fear that those data rules could open the door to wider sharing of sensitive information with immigration agents.
- Official information about SNAP and its rules is available at: fns.usda.gov/snap
- Advocates urge residents to submit public comments on the SNAP data rules before the July 23, 2025 deadline.
How data fears affect families
Lawyers and community organizers stress many mixed‑status families already avoid programs like SNAP because they worry applying might expose relatives without legal status. If families think their data could land in an ICE file, they will skip food help — even when their children are U.S. citizens.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, advocates argue that states must use every legal option to keep social service data from flowing into federal immigration systems. They emphasize:
- States can negotiate data and security agreements with federal partners.
- Such agreements should include clear limits on how personal information from benefit applications can be used, stored, or shared.
- States have an obligation to guard sensitive details like addresses, family relationships, and immigration status.
Masked law enforcement: a growing flashpoint
Since January 2025, immigrant communities and supporters report seeing more ICE agents wearing masks and plain clothes during arrests, often without visible badges or agency insignia.
Witnesses say some officers refuse to state which agency they work for, leaving people unsure whether they are dealing with federal agents, local police, or even impostors. Civil rights lawyers warn this makes it very hard to verify the legality of an arrest or to challenge it in court.
“These masked operations raise serious questions about due process — the right to know who is detaining you and under what authority.”
Consequences highlighted by advocates:
– People may not know where to call or which records to request.
– Families may be unable to find a lawyer with the right experience.
– Lack of identification can hinder accountability if complaints are filed later.
Nevada’s ACR5 and the call for a formal study
Community leaders in Nevada have urged lawmakers to move forward with Assembly Concurrent Resolution 5 (ACR5), which would order a formal study of federal immigration enforcement practices in the state.
Supporters say the study could document:
– How often ICE deploys masked agents,
– What information officers request from state databases,
– How these actions affect families and local trust in institutions.
So far, ACR5 has not received a hearing or vote, leaving many advocates frustrated.
Other states and federal responses
Other states are acting independently. In Connecticut, legislators passed a bill aimed at limiting certain ICE arrests and strengthening data protections around residents’ personal information. That measure seeks to prevent federal agencies from tapping into state records, such as driver’s license databases or court records, for immigration enforcement.
In Washington, members of Congress have raised alarms about masked officers. Lawmakers including Representative Rob Menendez and Representative Dan Goldman have sent letters to the Department of Justice asking for answers and reforms. They argue federal officers should be clearly identifiable when carrying out arrests to protect constitutional rights and public safety.
Several House Democrats — including Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Congressman Dan Goldman, and Congressman Adriano Espaillat — introduced the No Secret Police Act. The bill would:
- Bar Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers from hiding their identities during immigration enforcement operations.
- Require DHS officers to display agency insignia and indicate which DHS component they work for (e.g., ICE or Customs and Border Protection).
- Limit exceptions to narrow, clearly defined circumstances.
State officials have also weighed in. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state attorneys general urged Congress to pass laws requiring immigration agents to identify themselves and show agency‑identifying insignia.
Human impact: fear, safety, and children
On the ground, the human impact is immediate and tangible. Community groups in Nevada describe parents afraid to drive their children to school or attend parent‑teacher meetings, worried an unknown masked officer might be waiting.
Reported effects include:
– Families skipping court hearings or avoiding local agencies, even when they are crime victims or witnesses.
– Mental health effects on children — anxiety, sleep problems, and trouble focusing in class.
– A risk that an entire generation of children in immigrant families may grow up distrusting any contact with government, even programs designed to help them.
What advocates are urging now
For now, immigrant advocacy groups are pressing for rapid action before the SNAP database rule takes effect on July 23, 2025, and before masked enforcement tactics become more common. Their calls to action include:
- Submit public comments on the SNAP data rules.
- Contact state legislators about measures like Nevada’s ACR5.
- Support federal efforts such as the No Secret Police Act.
These advocates stress the stakes are high: privacy, transparency, and basic civil rights for the communities they serve.
Whether these efforts will produce swift policy changes is uncertain, but advocates say immediate steps are necessary to protect vulnerable families and preserve trust in public institutions.
This Article in a Nutshell
From Nevada to Connecticut, immigrant advocacy groups are pressing for stronger data protections and formal investigations into masked law enforcement tactics used in immigration operations. Nevada’s coalition is urging a ban on ICE agents’ face coverings and restrictions on state data-sharing. A SNAP data-sharing routine scheduled for July 23, 2025, fuels concerns that benefit applicant data could be accessed by immigration authorities. Federal proposals like the No Secret Police Act aim to require DHS officers to display identification. Advocates warn that opaque enforcement and data transfers erode trust and deter families from essential services.
