Denver considers ban on face coverings for ICE agents in council proposal

Elliott Wenzler, The Denver Post on Jan 12, 2026

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DENVER — The Denver City Council is considering a new policy that would ban law enforcement officers — including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — from covering their faces during arrest and detention operations.

Councilwomen Flor Alvidrez and Shontel Lewis plan to present the idea for a potential city ordinance during a committee meeting Monday afternoon.

A presentation prepared for the meeting indirectly references ICE agents, calling the face coverings and masks they often wear during operations “an intimidation tactic.”

“Federal law enforcement agents operating in Denver have increasingly worn opaque face coverings that obscure identity while conducting arrests and detentions,” according to the slide deck.

The councilwomen haven’t formally introduced the bill yet. During Monday’s Budget and Policy Committee meeting, they will hear initial feedback from their colleagues on the idea. If other council members seem generally supportive, they may file it for formal consideration.

ICE agents’ common practice, which the agency has attributed to a desire to protect against threats to their own safety, attracted renewed attention last week after an officer whose face was partially covered opened fire on Renée Good, killing her in Minneapolis. The agent had been standing in front of Good’s car when she began driving, but local officials have disputed his claim that he was protecting himself.

Last year, California passed a similar law that bans police and federal agents from covering their faces. The Trump administration sued to block the bill, citing federal court precedent that prevents states from prosecuting federal law enforcement officers acting in the course of their duties.

“The absence of transparency by law enforcement personnel erodes trust with the general public and obstructs legitimate law enforcement operations,” Alvidrez and Lewis wrote in Denver’s proposed ordinance.

The measure would make exceptions for undercover and SWAT officers and for tactical operations. It wouldn’t prevent law enforcement officers from wearing helmets, transparent face guards, medical masks or protective eye gear.

The committee meeting is set to take place in the council’s committee room on the third floor of the Denver City and County Building. It will also be streamed live online.

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