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The FBI has issued a warning to state and federal law enforcement agencies that criminals impersonating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have carried out robberies, kidnappings and sexual assaults, urging agents to identify themselves clearly. “Due to the recent increase in ICE enforcement actions across the country, criminal actors are using ICE’s enhanced public profile and media coverage to their advantage to target vulnerable communities and commit criminal activity,” the bulletin said. Newsweek has contacted the FBI for comment via email. Federal agents wait in a hallway outside immigration court to detain immigrants for deportation on June 18 at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City. Why It Matters ICE has become a focal point in the national debate over immigration enforcement, particularly as President Donald Trump’s administration has increased deportation operations. The agency has faced growing scrutiny over allegations of misconduct, excessive force and heavy-handed tactics. Supporters argue that ICE is carrying out its mandate to uphold federal immigration laws and remove individuals who pose public-safety or national-security threats. Critics, however, contend that the agency’s aggressive approach has deepened fear in immigrant communities and blurred lines between legitimate enforcement and intimidation. Amid ramped-up immigration enforcement operations, there have been several reports of people posing as ICE agents. What To Know WIRED first reported on the document, which the nonprofit Property of the People obtained and later provided a copy to Newsweek. According to the FBI bulletin—which is marked “for official use only” and “law enforcement use only”—since early 2025, at least five incidents have involved suspects wearing ICE-style gear or falsely claiming to be immigration officers. On January 29, a suspect in North Carolina was arrested on charges of impersonating an ICE agent and sexually assaulting a woman at a motel. According to the FBI report, the man entered the victim’s room, threatened to deport her if she did not have sex with him, and presented a fake business card and badge while claiming to be a sworn law enforcement officer. The agency also said a man in Brooklyn attacked a Hispanic woman on February 13 after claiming to be an ICE agent. Police said the suspect lured the woman to a stairwell, where he punched her, attempted to rape her, and stole her purse and cellphone. The New York Police Department later arrested the suspect, who was charged with rape, robbery, assault, burglary and criminal possession of stolen property. Another impersonation incident was reported in New York on April 14 involving a man who posed as an ICE agent online, per the bulletin. According to the FBI advisory, the individual posted photos on social media of himself wearing an ICE jacket and standing outside a home improvement store. He allegedly wrote in the caption: “It’s my 14th shift and all the illegal aliens are gone! It worked!” On another platform, the same person posted, “No. I’m not ICE,” while wearing similar attire, apparently mocking or seeking attention for the impersonation, the FBI said. A woman in Florida who was in the process of obtaining legal U.S. residency was allegedly kidnapped by a suspect pretending to be an ICE agent on April 21. The suspect approached the victim, claimed to be there to pick her up and displayed a shirt labeled “ICE” under their jacket. Believing the individual to be a legitimate agent, the woman entered the suspect’s vehicle and was taken to an apartment complex before managing to escape unharmed. On August 7, three unidentified individuals dressed entirely in black, including black tactical vests, entered a New York restaurant and claimed to be immigration officers, according to the FBI bulletin Newsweek reviewed. The suspects allegedly tied one worker’s hands and placed a garbage bag over their head before robbing an ATM inside the building. A second employee, who came downstairs after hearing the suspects announce themselves as “immigration officers,” surrendered but was kicked to the ground and restrained before realizing the men were robbing the restaurant. The FBI bulletin outlines indicators of impersonation, such as forged or mismatched credentials, outdated uniforms and cloned vehicle decals. The agency advises that agents make visible identifications during operations whenever possible. It also recommends that agencies allow civilians to confirm an agent’s identity through official channels without interference. Scott Mechkowski, a retired ICE agent who served with the agency from the mid-1990s until 2019, told Newsweek that impersonators were often easier to spot because they typically acted alone. In contrast, real ICE operations involve teams...
