Montgomery County is days away from passing one of the most direct anti-ICE accountability measures in the country — a law that would require every law enforcement officer operating in the county, including federal ICE agents, to show their face and their badge.
The County Council’s Public Safety Committee unanimously passed the Unmask ICE Act (Bill 5-26) on April 17, sending it to a full council vote scheduled for April 28, 2026.
The bill is led by Councilmember Will Jawando (At-Large) and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Kristin Mink, Kate Stewart, Shebra Evans, Laurie-Anne Sayles, and Evan Glass.
What the Bill Does
The Unmask ICE Act would:
- Ban masks and face coverings for all law enforcement on duty in Montgomery County — including ICE agents — with narrow exceptions for undercover operations and genuine safety necessities
- Require visible identification so residents can verify who is detaining them
- Create an online complaint portal for residents or officers to report violations
- Sunset automatically once Maryland’s statewide uniform policy takes effect
Maryland Already Moved
The county’s bill doesn’t stand alone. Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed Senate Bill 1 into law on April 14, 2026 — just three days before the committee vote — banning face coverings for law enforcement statewide, effective October 1, 2026. The county bill was amended to align with SB1, meaning once the state policy rolls out, Montgomery County’s local ordinance sunsets and state law takes over.
The county bill is designed to fill the gap: it would take effect sooner and give residents a local enforcement mechanism before the state’s uniform policy kicks in.
Why It Matters
Masked ICE agents have become one of the most visible and fear-inducing symbols of the federal immigration crackdown. Videos of unidentified agents in tactical gear making arrests — no visible badges, no names — have circulated widely, leaving community members with no way to verify who is detaining them or seek accountability afterward.
“Requiring officers to be identifiable strengthens accountability, reduces fear, and ensures residents can trust law enforcement and seek recourse if their rights are violated,” Council President Fani-González said.
What Happens Next
The full Montgomery County Council votes on the Unmask ICE Act on April 28, 2026. If passed, it would become one of the first local ordinances in the country to directly mandate identification requirements for federal immigration agents operating within county limits.
Legal experts, including Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, have flagged that enforcing any such law against federal agents will be “difficult and likely unconstitutional.” Supporters argue that doesn’t make the law toothless — it establishes a public record, a complaint mechanism, and a normative standard for what accountability looks like.
Montgomery County has now passed — or is close to passing — a full legislative suite targeting ICE operations: the Immigrant Protections Act (signed February 2026), the County Values Act (March 2026), the ICE Out Act (April 21, 2026), and now the Unmask ICE Act — all in a single legislative season.
