HomeMy WebLinkAbout25-163 Resolution No. 25-163
RESOLUTION
URGING FEDERAL AND STATE LEADERS TO ENACT LEGISLATION
PROHIBITING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
FROM CONCEALING THEIR IDENTITIES
WHEREAS, the City of Elgin has a longstanding commitment to public safety policies for
preventing violence through constitutional policing, education and mental health assistance that
respects civil and human rights for all; and
WHEREAS, the City of Elgin remains committed to policies that uphold civil rights,
reinforce public safety through neighborhood investment, and respect the authority of local
leadership; and
WHEREAS, the current federal administration has been deploying federal agents wearing
masks and civilian clothing, without name tags or badges and traveling in unmarked vehicles, to
make arrests and conduct immigration enforcement operations across the country, including Elgin,
the Chicago metropolitan area and the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, the federal government's actions to intentionally hide the identities of its
agents make it far more difficult to challenge unlawful government acts, including holding agents
accountable for arrests that do not comport with basic constitutional rights or the country's
immigration laws; and
WHEREAS,the decision to begin concealing the faces of law enforcement agents who are
carrying out arrests and detentions evades accountability and decreases transparency, increasing
public allegations of government overreach,abuse of power and violations of constitutional rights;
and
WHEREAS,public confusion over whether masked,plainclothes agents are legitimate law
enforcement makes it difficult to distinguish between legal detention and criminal conduct, and
has also contributed to a dangerous increase in impersonation of officers; and
WHEREAS, Elgin Police Department officers are prohibited from intentionally disguising
or concealing their identities from the public by wearing any mask, covering or disguise while
performing their official duties; and
WHEREAS, Elgin Police Department officers assigned to conduct patrol or field duties
wear body cameras and activate their cameras during all law enforcement-related activities during
which the officer is interacting with a member of the general public; and
WHEREAS, all other law enforcement officers, including federal agents, are urged to
adhere to these requirements to protect public safety and promote accountability; and
WHEREAS, Elgin Police Department officers must, when requested, correctly identify
themselves by providing their rank, name, and badge number (or employee number for civilian
members)to any member of the public; and
WHEREAS, to protect public safety and promote accountability, all federal agents
operating in Elgin are urged, at all times when interacting with Elgin residents, to display
identifying information in a clearly visible fashion, including the name of the federal agency, last
name and badge number of the federal law enforcement officer; and
WHEREAS, actions by masked federal agents erodes trust between the community and
local law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, concealing the identity of federal agents contravenes federal regulations
requiring that immigration agents must identify themselves when making an arrest as soon as it is
safe to do so,see 8 C.F.R. 287.8(c)(2)(iii); and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Attorney General and the attorney generals from at least twenty
other states have called upon Congress to advance legislation that will similarly prohibit federal
immigration agents from wearing masks that conceal their identities and will require agents to
show identification and agency-identifying insignia, to protect the public, ensure accountability,
and preserve the reputation and effectiveness of law enforcement at every level of government;
and
WHEREAS, several pieces of legislation have been introduced in Congress that will ban
masks for federal immigration agents, including the No Secret Police Act, H.R. 4176; the No
Anonymity in Immigration Enforcement Act of 2025, H.R. 4004; the ICE Badge Visibility Act,
H.R. 4298; and the Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement Act
of 2025, S. 2212; and
WHEREAS, no law enforcement officer should be allowed to avoid the scrutiny required
to ensure their actions comport with the law; and
WHEREAS, the right to challenge the government's and its agents' potentially unlawful
acts is fundamental to our democratic system of government; and
WHEREAS, the current federal administration's mask policy invites further rule of law
erosion and compromises the courts' ability to act as a check on the federal government by
evaluating possible constitutional and statutory rights violations;
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS
SECTION 1: That the foregoing recitals are found as fact and incorporated herein by
reference.
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SECTION 2: That the City of Elgin hereby urges the Illinois Congressional Delegation
and the Illinois General Assembly to enact legislation that will prohibit law enforcement agents
from concealing their identities from the public by wearing masks and will require agents to wear
appropriate uniforms and present identification when conducting enforcement operations.
SECTION 3: That copies of this Resolution shall be furnished to all members of the
Illinois Congressional Delegation, the Governor of Illinois, the President of the Illinois Senate,
and the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.
SECTION 4: This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage
and approval in the manner provided by law.
s/ David J. Kaptain
David J. Kaptain, Mayor
Presented: September 24, 2025
Adopted: September 24, 2025
Omnibus Vote: Yeas: 9 Nays: 0
Attest:
s/Kimberly Dewis
Kimberly Dewis, City Clerk
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