Criminals posing as US immigration officers have carried out robberies, kidnappings, and sexual assaults in several states, warns a law enforcement bulletin issued last month by the [Federal Bureau of Investigation](https://www.wired.com/tag/fbi/). The bureau urges agencies to ensure officers clearly identify themselves and to cooperate when civilians ask to verify an officer’s identity—including by allowing calls to a local police precinct. “Ensure law enforcement personnel adequality [sic] identify themselves during operations and cooperate with individuals who request further verification,” it says.
First reported by WIRED, the bulletin cites five 2025 incidents involving fake immigration officers and says criminals are using [Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s](https://www.wired.com/story/ice-social-media-surveillance-24-7-contract/) heightened profile to target vulnerable communities, making it harder for Americans to distinguish between lawful officers and imposters while eroding trust in law enforcement. A review of public reporting confirms four of the five cases described in the bulletin. One appears to have gone unreported, suggesting the FBI drew in part on internal law enforcement information. The document was first obtained by the transparency nonprofit [Property of the People](https://propertyofthepeople.org/).
On August 7, according to the FBI, three men in black vests entered a New York restaurant claiming to be ICE agents. Inside, they tied a worker’s hands and pulled a garbage bag over the person’s head. Another, believing the burglars’ story, surrendered themselves, only to be kicked to the ground and tied up as the intruders robbed an ATM.
The bureau’s advisory urges agencies at every level of government to coordinate to “verify legitimate versus non-legitimate operations” attributed to ICE—a call that frames the wave of impersonations as a national law-enforcement concern.
The FBI declined to comment. Its national press office said that it could only respond to media inquiries involving national security, violations of federal law, or essential public safety functions during the government shutdown.
It was only a matter of time. It’s probably been going on since the start.
Typical_Chance6412 on
So can we expect those ICE imbeciles without masks now?
StrangerFew2424 on
You’ll notice how they ‘urge’ them, not require them…
NamelessResearcher on
Criminals are posing as ICE? That’s a terrible way to disguise yourself.
BackgroundTight32 on
Maybe Kash should talk to his boss then
Ancient_Popcorn on
Surprising literally no one with more than two brain cells.
Rayearl on
I have a feeling this is more “Criminals hired into ICE are committing crimes”
absolutelynotagoblin on
This is what happens when you allow federal agents to mask their face.
AirsickIowlander on
Probably still less criminal than the real thing.
Historical_Bend_2629 on
That is just fucking great. How reassuring. Thanks, FBI. Way to get out in front of domestic terrorism. How about full accountability. No masks, badge numbers, warrants, and not dumbass white supremacists dressed in costumes. Maybe the six week training period is not the right approach. You have the funding. Hey Patel, talk to Noem. The status quo is unacceptable, y’all know it, except Stephen Miller, unelected American Neo-Nazi.
Sojum on
Gawrsh, who woulda seen THAT coming?
SuperstitiousPigeon5 on
I EXPECTED this.
It’s the perfect mechanism for rapists. “I’ll let you go if you give me something in return…”
This entire Temu SS is primed for corruption.
Illustrious_Hotel527 on
Taking lethal action as self-defense against masked criminals shouldn’t be a crime or jailable offense, then.
nemo1316 on
all of them are criminals posing as federal agents
uhohnotafarteither on
There’s no guarantee whatsoever that even if they are legit ICE that they aren’t also batshit crazy criminals as well though.
FalstaffsGhost on
No shit. This has been happening since Trump got back in office. I’m legitimately surprised. I haven’t seen a story yet about an imposter or an actual ice agent shot, stabbed, beaten up and self-defense yet.
Puzzled-Duck4047 on
I was waiting for this, when do they start robbing banks, if the government is making criminal behavior legal, watch out, pretty soon they’ll be kidnapping politicians and holding them for ransom, no wonder politicians are moving onto military bases, it’s the only way they can tell the difference anymore.
caniaccanuck11 on
“Hey Guys, now that it’s starting to look worse for us, please start doing the thing you should have been doing from the start ok? Please?”
AoE_Mobius_One on
No fucking shit.
Mr_Tort_Feasor on
So the FBI just makes polite suggestions now? Good to know.
Unique-Coffee5087 on
How about a solid authorization that we can resist with any proportional action if we are not satisfied that they are real agents of the government.
PFAS_All_Star on
Absolutely. If someone claims to be ICE but can’t or won’t produce confirming ID, they are likely a kidnapper/murder/rapist and you must defend yourself by all means necessary.
JeRazor on
So if there are people claiming to be ICE that won’t identify themself is that then a shoot first find out later situation for civilians? People kept saying this would be an issue when it started.
TheDwellingHeart on
FBI worries that criminals will be posing as federal criminals.
tropical_rabbit on
You fucking think???? God I hate this reality.
everything_is_bad on
Ice are criminals
triker_whaleygirl on
Duh! Dumb fucks!!!
dont-bend-the-knee on
No fucking shit. This is why masked agents are a bad idea.
20minuteemailgod on
This is just cover for ICE. Some one get raped in ICE custody? It was a criminal impersonator!
plattner-da on
Arent all ICE criminals at this point?
HallucinogenicFish on
Who could possibly have predicted this completely obvious development?
kchrules on
Great work FBI, no one could have guessed people would do this
Drusgar on
I thought the *ICE agents* were posing as criminals.
CrimsonHeretic on
Identified or not, ICE is committing crimes and terrorizing the American people.
sealclubberfan on
Why was this not a thing from the beginning?
SublimeApathy on
I’m gonna start posing as ICE, load people into my car and drive them home.
Zanos-Ixshlae on
Wow, because everyone said this would happen.
RiffRaffCatillacCat on
Americans have no idea whether the armed masked man screaming at them and trying to violently stuff them into the back of their unmarked van, is even a cop.
**It could be a gang member, it could be Tren de Aragua.**
They cover their faces, they refuse to identify themselves. Why would any legit officer of the law engage with the American people in this way?
RonaldMcDaugherty on
I wonder how many people working for ICE straight up refused to “mask up” during COVID? Can’t keep the masks off them now.
narcolepticdoc on
> The FBI describes a few signs of impersonation: forged or mismatched credentials, outdated protective gear, and cloned vehicle markings.
Oh that’s fucking helpful.
LuigiTheTweak_eth on
Thank Republicans for making America less safe and giving cover for organized criminals.
Kinky_69420 on
Yeah, no fucking shit 🤡
T1Pimp on
> In a bulletin to law enforcement agencies, the FBI said criminal impersonators are exploiting ICE’s image and urged nationwide coordination to distinguish real operations from fakes.
They’re letting people with violent criminal pasts, who cannot pass an open book exam, into ICE. ICE #ARE# criminals.
48 Comments
Criminals posing as US immigration officers have carried out robberies, kidnappings, and sexual assaults in several states, warns a law enforcement bulletin issued last month by the [Federal Bureau of Investigation](https://www.wired.com/tag/fbi/). The bureau urges agencies to ensure officers clearly identify themselves and to cooperate when civilians ask to verify an officer’s identity—including by allowing calls to a local police precinct. “Ensure law enforcement personnel adequality [sic] identify themselves during operations and cooperate with individuals who request further verification,” it says.
First reported by WIRED, the bulletin cites five 2025 incidents involving fake immigration officers and says criminals are using [Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s](https://www.wired.com/story/ice-social-media-surveillance-24-7-contract/) heightened profile to target vulnerable communities, making it harder for Americans to distinguish between lawful officers and imposters while eroding trust in law enforcement. A review of public reporting confirms four of the five cases described in the bulletin. One appears to have gone unreported, suggesting the FBI drew in part on internal law enforcement information. The document was first obtained by the transparency nonprofit [Property of the People](https://propertyofthepeople.org/).
On August 7, according to the FBI, three men in black vests entered a New York restaurant claiming to be ICE agents. Inside, they tied a worker’s hands and pulled a garbage bag over the person’s head. Another, believing the burglars’ story, surrendered themselves, only to be kicked to the ground and tied up as the intruders robbed an ATM.
The bureau’s advisory urges agencies at every level of government to coordinate to “verify legitimate versus non-legitimate operations” attributed to ICE—a call that frames the wave of impersonations as a national law-enforcement concern.
The FBI declined to comment. Its national press office said that it could only respond to media inquiries involving national security, violations of federal law, or essential public safety functions during the government shutdown.
Read the full story here: [https://www.wired.com/story/fbi-warns-of-criminals-posing-as-ice-urges-agents-to-id-themselves/](https://www.wired.com/story/fbi-warns-of-criminals-posing-as-ice-urges-agents-to-id-themselves/)
It was only a matter of time. It’s probably been going on since the start.
So can we expect those ICE imbeciles without masks now?
You’ll notice how they ‘urge’ them, not require them…
Criminals are posing as ICE? That’s a terrible way to disguise yourself.
Maybe Kash should talk to his boss then
Surprising literally no one with more than two brain cells.
I have a feeling this is more “Criminals hired into ICE are committing crimes”
This is what happens when you allow federal agents to mask their face.
Probably still less criminal than the real thing.
That is just fucking great. How reassuring. Thanks, FBI. Way to get out in front of domestic terrorism. How about full accountability. No masks, badge numbers, warrants, and not dumbass white supremacists dressed in costumes. Maybe the six week training period is not the right approach. You have the funding. Hey Patel, talk to Noem. The status quo is unacceptable, y’all know it, except Stephen Miller, unelected American Neo-Nazi.
Gawrsh, who woulda seen THAT coming?
I EXPECTED this.
It’s the perfect mechanism for rapists. “I’ll let you go if you give me something in return…”
This entire Temu SS is primed for corruption.
Taking lethal action as self-defense against masked criminals shouldn’t be a crime or jailable offense, then.
all of them are criminals posing as federal agents
There’s no guarantee whatsoever that even if they are legit ICE that they aren’t also batshit crazy criminals as well though.
No shit. This has been happening since Trump got back in office. I’m legitimately surprised. I haven’t seen a story yet about an imposter or an actual ice agent shot, stabbed, beaten up and self-defense yet.
I was waiting for this, when do they start robbing banks, if the government is making criminal behavior legal, watch out, pretty soon they’ll be kidnapping politicians and holding them for ransom, no wonder politicians are moving onto military bases, it’s the only way they can tell the difference anymore.
“Hey Guys, now that it’s starting to look worse for us, please start doing the thing you should have been doing from the start ok? Please?”
No fucking shit.
So the FBI just makes polite suggestions now? Good to know.
How about a solid authorization that we can resist with any proportional action if we are not satisfied that they are real agents of the government.
Absolutely. If someone claims to be ICE but can’t or won’t produce confirming ID, they are likely a kidnapper/murder/rapist and you must defend yourself by all means necessary.
So if there are people claiming to be ICE that won’t identify themself is that then a shoot first find out later situation for civilians? People kept saying this would be an issue when it started.
FBI worries that criminals will be posing as federal criminals.
You fucking think???? God I hate this reality.
Ice are criminals
Duh! Dumb fucks!!!
No fucking shit. This is why masked agents are a bad idea.
This is just cover for ICE. Some one get raped in ICE custody? It was a criminal impersonator!
Arent all ICE criminals at this point?
Who could possibly have predicted this completely obvious development?
Great work FBI, no one could have guessed people would do this
I thought the *ICE agents* were posing as criminals.
Identified or not, ICE is committing crimes and terrorizing the American people.
Why was this not a thing from the beginning?
I’m gonna start posing as ICE, load people into my car and drive them home.
Wow, because everyone said this would happen.
Americans have no idea whether the armed masked man screaming at them and trying to violently stuff them into the back of their unmarked van, is even a cop.
**It could be a gang member, it could be Tren de Aragua.**
They cover their faces, they refuse to identify themselves. Why would any legit officer of the law engage with the American people in this way?
I wonder how many people working for ICE straight up refused to “mask up” during COVID? Can’t keep the masks off them now.
> The FBI describes a few signs of impersonation: forged or mismatched credentials, outdated protective gear, and cloned vehicle markings.
Oh that’s fucking helpful.
Thank Republicans for making America less safe and giving cover for organized criminals.
Yeah, no fucking shit 🤡
> In a bulletin to law enforcement agencies, the FBI said criminal impersonators are exploiting ICE’s image and urged nationwide coordination to distinguish real operations from fakes.
They’re letting people with violent criminal pasts, who cannot pass an open book exam, into ICE. ICE #ARE# criminals.
The call is coming from inside the house
They’re all criminals what’s the difference
Yeah no shit!!!
Is there a difference?