The FBI is warning of criminals posing as ICE and is asking agents to identify themselves
A law enforcement bulletin issued last month by the Federal Bureau of Investigation warns that criminals posing as US immigration officers have committed robberies, kidnappings and sexual assaults in several states. The bureau wants agencies to ensure officers clearly identify themselves and to cooperate when civilians want to verify an officer’s identity — including allowing calls to a local police precinct. “Ensure adequate law enforcement staffing [sic] Identify themselves during operations and cooperate with those requesting further verification.
First reported by WIRED, the bulletin cites five 2025 incidents involving fake immigration officers and says criminals are using the increased profile of immigration and enforcement to target vulnerable communities, while making it harder for Americans to trust law enforcement. A review of public reports confirms four of the five cases described in the bulletin. One of them appears to have gone unreported, suggesting that the FBI used some domestic law enforcement information. This document was first obtained by the transparency non-profit organization Property of People.
According to the FBI, on August 7, three men wearing black vests entered a restaurant in New York claiming to be ICE agents. Inside, they handcuffed a worker and pulled a garbage bag over his head. Another, who believed the robbers’ story, surrendered, but was kicked and locked up while the intruders stole an ATM.
The office’s advisory calls for agencies at every level of government to coordinate to “validate legitimate versus illegitimate operations” attributed to ICE — a call that considers the wave of impersonation a national law enforcement concern.
The FBI declined to comment. The National Press Office said it could only respond to media inquiries related to national security, violations of federal law, or essential public safety duties during the government shutdown.
Cases cited in its advisory include kidnappings, street crimes and sexual violence: In Section B, Florida, the advisory says, a woman “unzipped. [her] She showed off a jacket and shirt with ICE written on it and told her ex-boyfriend’s wife that she was there to pick him up, before driving her to an apartment complex. The woman later fled. In Brooklyn, a man told a woman he was an immigration officer and “gave directions. [her] to a nearby stairwell, where he punched her, tried to rape her, and stole her phone before police arrested her. In Raleigh, North Carolina, a man allegedly “entered. [a] motel room and threatened to evict the woman if he did not have sex with her, telling her he was a sworn officer.
The FBI describes a few signs of impersonation: fake or mismatched credentials, outdated protective equipment, and simulated license plates. It encourages agencies to launch outreach programs aimed at identifying fake ICE agents, a step the FBI argues could combat mistrust fueled by impersonation and boost law enforcement’s image.
