Alleged ICE Agent Dressed as a 'Construction Worker' Sparks New Fears Over 'Secret Police' Tactics

A covert immigration enforcement operation in New York has reignited fears over the expanding use of 'secret police'-style tactics by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

A viral video shows an ICE agent dressed as a construction worker confronting an immigrant rights advocate, prompting renewed calls for transparency.

What Happened at the Confrontation?

In a video posted by Juan Fonseca Tapia, co-founder and organiser of immigrant advocacy group Greater Danbury Unites for Immigrants, he confronted a man dressed as a construction worker.

Tapia, recording the encounter from inside his car, asks, 'Which agency do you work for?'

The man, dressed in a bright construction vest, orange hard hat, glasses, and a camouflage-patterned mask that conceals most of his face, replies, 'I'm not telling you. That's none of your concern.'

When the man in disguise continues to insist that he won't reveal his agency, Tapia presses further, saying that he is a US citizen and has the right to ask suspected federal agents with whom they are working.

With the alleged ICE agent still not revealing who he is entirely, he then decides to leave the scene, as the recording ends.

'This is not just dangerous—it's deception. Today, an ICE agent was caught impersonating a construction worker. Our community deserves transparency and safety, not entrapment,' Tapia posted on Facebook.

ICE Confirms 'Disguised Agent' Incident

Following this incident, ICE confirmed to The Intercept that the man wearing the hard hat is one of their agents.

In an emailed statement, an ICE spokesperson said, 'ICE New York City officers were carrying out surveillance in Brewster, New York, on August 2, when anti-ICE activists began following them and tried to interfere with the operation.

The video, shared on social media last weekend by Greater Danbury Area Unites for Immigrants, shows the agent identifying himself only as part of 'federal law enforcement.' In the footage, his vest does not display any markings reading 'ICE' or 'ERO', with the latter referring to the Enforcement and Removal Operations unit.

Tapia also told the publication that he spotted a second man who was similarly disguised as a construction worker.

Other Instances of ICE Infiltration

In recent months, critics have likened ICE's conduct to that of a 'secret police,' citing aggressive tactics that bypass due process. In mid-March, ICE deported a Maryland man named Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia—protected by a court order—without judicial approval.

They have also detained Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish Ph.D. student under vague allegations, using plainclothes agents and unmarked vehicles—raising alarms about unchecked executive power.

There have been discussions online as well of how ICE expanded its enforcement into previously 'sensitive locations' such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship, generating widespread fear among immigrant communities.

'They have already seen increased absenteeism, higher anxiety among students, increased bullying, less parental involvement, and heightened fear as a result of the change in guidance,' the Council of Great City Schools recently said following ICE's enforcement in schools.

Key Statistics on ICE Enforcement

Between January 20 and March 10, 2025, agents conducted 32,809 at-large arrests—nearly matching the entire 2024 total—of which 14,111 involved convicted criminals and 9,980 had pending charges; 1,155 were gang members, and 39 were known or suspected terrorists, according to data from the US Department of Homeland Security.

From January through late June, only 40% of nearly 112,000 arrests were convicted criminals—down from 53 % the previous year—with violent convictions falling to 7 % and drug offences to 5%.

ICE averaged 1,200 arrests per day in June 2025, with some days exceeding 2,000 arrests, marking a dramatic escalation in enforcement activity. This initiative resulted in the detention of about 23,000 undocumented migrants (including 18,000 deportations), targeted mainly in urban areas.

Continued Fear of ICE

Taken together, the surge in arrests, expanded detention capacity, and targeting of individuals without criminal records mark a sharp escalation in ICE's scope and tactics under Trump's current term. While the administration frames these measures as essential to national security and immigration control, critics argue they reflect a politicised enforcement agenda that undermines civil liberties and fuels fear within immigrant communities.