The Ulster County Legislature is expected on April 21 to take up a resolution that would schedule a public hearing and allow it to move forward with consideration of a new local law that would ban law enforcement from wearing masks and not showing proper identification in the county. The new law, if adopted, would apply to all federal, state and local law enforcement agents operating in Ulster. While it does not specifically name federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the county would apply it to ICE agents operating there.
The legislation is titled the “Baseline Standards for Law Enforcement Identifiability Law.” It would establish a presumption against the use of facial‑concealing masks unless there is a specific operational necessity, such as undercover work, emergency protective equipment, or other narrowly defined circumstances. Officers engaged in public‑facing law enforcement activity would be required to display visible identification, such as a last name, badge number, or unique identifying number, and to provide that information verbally upon request.
The move to pass the new law follows numerous nationwide complaints about the Trump administration sending masked ICE agents into U.S. cities and agents who had no visible identification violating the civil rights of people who were acting lawfully.
“Public trust is the foundation of public safety,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “When someone is stopped, questioned, or directed by law enforcement, they should be able to clearly identify who is exercising authority over them.”
Metzger characterized the proposed law as a “common‑sense standard that will protect the public and officers, alike, by reducing confusion, preventing impersonation, and strengthening transparency.”
The proposed law gained the endorsement of Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa.
“Anonymity undermines oversight and transparency,” Figueroa said. “While masking can be justified in confidential investigations, it is unnecessary in routine operations. Public trust diminishes when law enforcement creates fear rather than communicating with common sense transparency.”
If an officer or agency fails to comply with the law, the matter would be reviewed through an administrative process. All complaints would be handled by the Ulster County Human Rights Department. Two independent attorneys would be brought in to hear the complaints. One would serve as administrative counsel and the other would serve as the hearing officer. The attorneys would determine whether a violation occurred and whether a warning, corrective order, or civil penalty is appropriate.
