Two Republican and Democrat lawmakers are introducing a bipartisan amendment that would let Oregon voters decide whether to change the state constitution to ban “secret police.”
Newsweek contacted the cosponsors via email for comment outside office hours.
Why It Matters
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as federal partners such as the U.S. Border Patrol, have faced growing criticism in recent months for allowing their agents to conduct targeted enforcement operations in plain clothes and face coverings.
ICE officials argue that the masks are crucial to protect the identities of agents and their families from death threats. The agency is facing increased scrutiny as President Donald Trump orders his administration to remove millions of migrants without legal status as part of a hard-line deportation strategy.
What To Know
The proposal, introduced by State Representatives Tom Andersen, a Democrat, and Republican Cyrus Javadi, would require law enforcement officers to wear uniforms and display their names and badge numbers, KATU first reported.
“Transparency isn’t a Republican value or a Democratic value, it’s an American value. And Oregon can lead the way by putting that principle directly into our Constitution,” Javadi told the outlet.
The amendment is expected to be introduced during the 2026 Short Session. If it receives majority approval in both the Oregon House and Senate, it will advance to a public vote in 2026.
The proposal includes specific exemptions to maintain the effectiveness of certain law enforcement operations. SWAT teams and undercover operations would not be subject to the uniform and identification requirements outlined in the amendment, and therefore would be exempt.
An increasing number of Democratic-led states are introducing legislation that would bar federal agents from wearing masks while conducting immigration enforcement activities.
California, New York, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania have put forward bills that would require federal officers to display clear identification, with certain exceptions for safety or undercover work, as part of efforts to improve transparency and place limits on the agency’s expanded authority.
At the federal level, House Democrats have proposed the No Anonymity in Immigration Enforcement Act, which would require ICE agents to display clear identification during enforcement operations, with limited exceptions for public safety.
Similarly, Senate Democrats have introduced the VISIBLE Act, which would mandate that ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers wear legible identification showing their names and agency, while also restricting the use of most face coverings during operations.
What People Are Saying
State Representative Tom Andersen, a Democrat, told KATU: “I am introducing this legislation because Oregon must stand up to the anti-American, malignant forces of authoritarianism threatening our country, its democracy, and our freedoms.
“This is no longer just some Donald Trump fever dream. It’s happening right now—unidentified federal ICE officers are using violence and the threat of violence in our communities to replace normal law enforcement.”
GOP State Representative Cyrus Javadi, a Republican, told KATU: “Oregonians shouldn’t have to wonder who’s knocking on their door in the middle of the night. In a free society, the people who enforce the law should never be faceless or unaccountable.”
What Happens Next
If a majority of voters support it, the amendment would become law following the November 2026 midterms.
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