SB 389: Law Enforcement Officers and Agencies; covered immigration officers wear visible identification during public immigration enforcement functions; require

Georgia law currently has no state requirement about how federal immigration officers identify themselves during public enforcement actions like arrests, stops, or raids. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's law enforcement code (O.C.G.A. Chapter 1 of Title 35) that applies to 'covered immigration officers,' defined as officers or employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who are authorized to carry out immigration enforcement. Under the bill, these officers would have to wear visible identification, showing 'United States Immigration and Custom Enforcement' or 'ICE' plus their last name or badge number, whenever they are directly engaged in public-facing enforcement activity such as patrols, stops, arrests, searches, raids, checkpoints, or serving warrants. The identification must be legible from at least 25 feet, visible day and night, and worn on the outermost layer of clothing or gear where it cannot be hidden. Officers would generally be barred from wearing masks, hoods, or balaclavas that hide their face or the required identification, except when needed to protect a covert operation or for protection against hazardous conditions. Covert operations and nonenforcement activities are excluded from these rules.

• Adds a new Georgia Code section requiring ICE officers performing public immigration enforcement functions in Georgia to wear visible identification.
• Defines which activities count as 'public immigration enforcement functions,' including patrols, stops, arrests, searches, raids, checkpoints, and warrant service, while excluding covert operations.
• Specifies that identification must show 'ICE' or the agency's full name plus the officer's last name or badge number, legible from 25 feet in day and night conditions.
• Requires the identification to be worn on the outermost garment where it cannot be concealed by tactical gear, armor, or accessories.
• Prohibits officers from wearing face coverings like masks, hoods, or balaclavas that hide their face or required ID, unless needed for a covert operation or protection from hazardous conditions.

This bill directly affects officers and employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who carry out public immigration enforcement in Georgia, as well as the people they interact with during stops, arrests, raids, and checkpoints, who would be able to see identifying information about the officers involved.

If enacted, people encountering ICE officers during public enforcement actions in Georgia, such as stops or raids, would generally be able to see the agency name and an officer's name or badge number, and officers would largely be barred from masking their identity, changing what the public can observe during these encounters.

• Section 1 adds new Code Section 35-1-17.1 to Georgia law, defining 'covered immigration officer' as an ICE officer or employee authorized to perform immigration enforcement.
• Subsection (a)(2) defines 'public immigration enforcement function' broadly to include patrols, stops, arrests, searches, interviews, raids, checkpoints, and warrant service, but excludes covert or nonpublic operations.
• Subsection (b) requires covered officers to wear visible identification at all times while directly engaged in a public immigration enforcement function.
• Subsection (c) sets specific display standards: legible from 25 feet, visible in daylight and low light, worn on the outermost garment, and not concealable by gear or armor.
• Subsection (d) bars nonmedical face coverings that hide an officer's face or required identification, with exceptions for covert operations or hazardous environmental conditions.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-14Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
2. 2026-01-13Senate Hopper (Senado)

• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)Patrocinador principal
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)

• immigration enforcement
• ICE officer identification
• law enforcement transparency
• face coverings
• immigration policy