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S 2212

Enacts the "sewage flooding prevention act"

2025 Regular Session Introduced by John Liu

The bill would require immigration enforcement officers to display clear, visible agency and name or ID on outerwear during public enforcement activities.

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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 2212

Summary — S.2212 (119th Congress, 1st Sess.) — "Visible Identification Standards for Immigration‑Based Law Enforcement Act of 2025" (VISIBLE Act)

Note on source documents: the packet included conflicting metadata (a different short title, and a separate Massachusetts state docket also numbered 2212). The legislative text provided below is a federal bill introduced July 8, 2025 in the U.S. Senate that would amend 8 U.S.C. 1357 (section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act) to require visible identification for immigration enforcement officers.

Main purpose

To increase transparency and accountability in public-facing immigration enforcement by requiring covered immigration officers to display clear, visible identification during enforcement activities that are observable by the public.

Key provisions

  • Adds subsection (i) to INA §287 (8 U.S.C. 1357) defining terms and imposing identification requirements.
  • Definitions:
    • “Covered immigration officer” — persons authorized to perform immigration enforcement, including officers/employees of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and individuals authorized/deputized under federal law or agreements (e.g., 287(g)).
    • “Public immigration enforcement function” — public-facing activities such as patrols, stops, arrests, searches, interviews to determine status, raids, checkpoint inspections, and service of warrants; excludes covert/non-public operations.
    • “Visible identification” — display of the officer’s agency and name or badge number meeting specified format/size requirements.
  • Identification requirements (during any public immigration enforcement engagement within the U.S.):
    • Display the employing agency (full name or widely recognized initials) and either the officer’s last name or unique badge/ID number.
    • Agency identification must be legible at at least 25 feet and visible in daylight and low-light conditions.
    • Name/badge must be readable during direct engagement.
    • Identification must be on the outermost garment/gear and not obscured by tactical equipment or body armor.
  • Face coverings: non‑medical face coverings (masks, balaclavas) that obscure identification or the officer’s face are prohibited except when operationally necessary for covert/nonpublic operations or to protect from hazardous conditions.

Compliance, oversight, and reporting

  • DHS must ensure administrative discipline for noncompliant officers (written reprimand, suspension, or other personnel actions consistent with policy and collective bargaining agreements).
  • Annual reporting (first report due within one year after enactment) to DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (OCRCL) and Congressional committees must include:
    • Total number of public immigration enforcement functions;
    • Number of documented noncompliance instances with §287(i);
    • Summary of disciplinary/remedial actions taken.
  • OCRCL responsibilities: receive/investigate public complaints under §287(i), issue recommendations to DHS components, include findings in its annual public report under 6 U.S.C. §345(b).

Who is affected

  • Directly: CBP, ICE, and deputized/authorized federal or state/local personnel acting under federal immigration authority (including 287(g) designees).
  • Indirectly: communities and individuals subject to public immigration enforcement (improved ability to identify officers and lodge complaints); DHS components responsible for compliance, training, and uniform/equipment adjustments.

Potential impacts

  • Increases transparency and may improve public trust and complaint/oversight mechanisms.
  • Operational implications: agencies will need to implement uniform/identification standards, training, and reporting procedures; some agents’ safety or undercover operations may be affected but the bill preserves narrow exceptions for covert or hazardous conditions.
  • Administrative cost and workforce management implications tied to discipline, reporting, and equipment updates.

Procedural status (as provided)

  • Introduced in Senate: July 8, 2025 (sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla; cosponsors include Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Cory Booker, Tammy Duckworth, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, and others).
  • Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary (7/8/2025).
  • Reported favorably by committee and referred to Senate Rules (reported 8/14/2025).
  • Hearing referenced: scheduled 6/4/2025 (note: dates in packet appear inconsistent).

Related measures

  • Companion/related bills listed include HR 4667 and multiple prior-session and state-level bills; these appear to be related or prior attempts addressing similar identification/oversight topics.

If you want, I can:
- Extract the exact statutory text to show how it would read within 8 U.S.C. 1357;
- Produce a one‑page explainer for community groups on how to use the new identification and complaint processes (if enacted).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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