Preventing Fraudulent ICE Impersonation Act of 2025
Officially: “Preventing Fraudulent ICE Impersonation Act of 2025” Read the full text
What it does
Read it in plain language
1Short title
This section would let the Act be cited as the Preventing Fraudulent ICE Impersonation Act of 2025.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preventing Fraudulent ICE Impersonation Act of 2025 .
2Findings
Congress states three findings: that unauthorized individuals have impersonated U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, causing fear and distrust in communities; that the unauthorized use of ICE insignia and apparel poses a significant risk to public safety, undermines trust in law enforcement, and facilitates fraudulent activities; and that strengthening penalties and restricting the sale of ICE-branded apparel and insignia is necessary to protect communities from fraud and abuse.
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2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Unauthorized individuals have impersonated U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, causing fear and distrust in communities. (2) The unauthorized use of ICE insignia and apparel poses a significant risk to public safety, undermines trust in law enforcement, and facilitates fraudulent activities. (3) Strengthening penalties and restricting the sale of ICE-branded apparel and insignia is necessary to protect communities from fraud and abuse.
3Prohibition on unauthorized use of ICE apparel and insignia
This section would make it unlawful for any individual who is not an officer or employee of the Department of Homeland Security acting within the scope of official duties to wear, display, or possess apparel, badges, insignia, or other items bearing the words "ICE" or "Immigration and Customs Enforcement" in a manner that could reasonably be interpreted as an attempt to impersonate a Federal law enforcement officer. A person who violates this rule would be fined under title 18 of the United States Code, imprisoned for not more than 7 years, or both. Separately, this section would make it unlawful for any individual or entity to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, or distribute any apparel, badge, or insignia bearing the official marks, logos, or designations of ICE without express authorization from the Department of Homeland Security. A person or entity that violates this second rule would be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $100,000 per violation.
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3. Prohibition on unauthorized use of ice apparel and insignia (a) Unlawful Impersonation of an ICE Officer (1) In general It shall be unlawful for any individual who is not an officer or employee of the Department of Homeland Security, acting within the scope of their official duties, to wear, display, or possess apparel, badges, insignia, or other items bearing the words ICE or Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a manner that could reasonably be interpreted as an attempt to impersonate a Federal law enforcement officer. (2) Penalty Any person who violates this subsection shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned for not more than 7 years, or both. (b) Prohibition on Sale of ICE Apparel and Insignia (1) In general It shall be unlawful for any individual or entity to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, or distribute any apparel, badge, or insignia bearing the official marks, logos, or designations of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement without express authorization from the Department of Homeland Security. (2) Civil penalty Any person or entity who violates this subsection shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $100,000 per violation.
4Seizure and forfeiture
This section would subject any unauthorized ICE apparel or insignia that is manufactured, sold, distributed, or possessed in violation of this Act to seizure and forfeiture under chapter 46 of title 18 of the United States Code. It would also direct the United States Sentencing Commission to take the actions necessary to ensure that impersonating an immigration official results in an enhancement of not less than 6 months added to any term of imprisonment.
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4. Seizure and forfeiture (a) Seizure and forfeiture Any unauthorized ICE apparel or insignia manufactured, sold, distributed, or possessed in violation of this Act shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture in accordance with chapter 46 of title 18, United States Code. (b) Sentencing enhancement The United States Sentencing Commission shall take such actions as may be necessary to provide that impersonation of an immigration official shall result in an enhancement of any term of imprisonment of no less than 6 months.
5Public awareness and reporting mechanism
This section would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a public awareness campaign to inform communities about the dangers of individuals impersonating ICE officers and to provide resources for reporting such activity. The Secretary would also have to establish a national reporting mechanism, including a dedicated hotline and an online portal, for reporting people who impersonate ICE officers. Starting not later than 180 days after this Act is enacted and every 180 days after that, the Comptroller General of the United States would have to study the impersonation of immigration officials and the underlying factors that should be considered for any potential solution to the issue, and submit a report on that study to Congress.
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5. Public awareness and reporting mechanism (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a public awareness campaign to inform communities about the dangers of individuals impersonating ICE officers and provide resources for reporting such activities. (b) The Secretary shall also establish a national reporting mechanism, including a dedicated hotline and online portal, to facilitate the reporting of individuals impersonating ICE officers. (c) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act and every 180 days thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the impersonation of immigration officials and the underlying factors that should be considered for any potential solution to the issue, and submit thereon a report to Congress.
6Rulemaking
This section would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue the regulations necessary to carry out this Act not later than 180 days after the date of enactment.
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6. Rulemaking The Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue regulations necessary to carry out this Act not later than 180 days after the date of enactment.
7Definition
This section would define "ICE" to mean U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It would also define "official" to mean a public official as defined in section 201(a)(1) of title 18 of the United States Code, and a person who has been selected to be a public official as defined in section 201(a)(2) of title 18 of the United States Code.
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7. Definition In this Act— (1) the term ICE means U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and (2) the term official means— (A) a public official, as such term is defined in section 201(a)(1) of title 18, United States Code; and (B) a person who has been selected to be a public official, as such term is defined in section 201(a)(2) of title 18, United States Code.
Where it is
In the House.