In a blistering essay that’s gone viral on Substack, former GOP Congressman Adam Kinzinger sounds the alarm over what he calls a “terrifying trend toward fascism”—and it’s happening in broad daylight, with federal agents masked, nameless, and grabbing people off the streets.
“These aren’t undercover missions or classified operations,” Kinzinger writes. “This is ICE conducting street-level detentions, protest crackdowns, and raids—while hiding their identities from the very people they are sworn to serve.”
In cities across the U.S., reports have emerged of federal officers operating without visible badges, name tags, or even agency markings. Many are in full tactical gear—some in plain clothes—but with one shared trait: their faces are hidden behind masks. Kinzinger says this erasure of identity strips the public of any chance at accountability.
“This is not law enforcement. This is authoritarianism,” he warns. “You can’t demand justice from someone who hides behind a mask.”
The former congressman and outspoken Trump critic references past court decisions—like Hiibel v. Nevada and Kolender v. Lawson—to argue that government transparency must go both ways. If Americans are required to identify themselves during stops, then so should the people detaining them.
Kinzinger, who served on the January 6th Committee, says the lack of transparency isn’t just unconstitutional—it’s cowardly.
“You don’t build trust with a community by terrorizing it from behind a mask,” he said. “And you sure as hell don’t defend the Constitution by violating it in the dark.”
His post—titled “Why Are Federal Agents Wearing Masks? It’s a Threat to American Democracy”—has sparked a flood of responses, with many Americans sharing their own fears of growing authoritarian tactics under the guise of law enforcement.
Some on the right dismissed his concerns as “hysteria,” but Kinzinger doubled down: “This isn’t about partisan politics. This is about the soul of American democracy.”
With reports of masked agents increasing—especially during immigration raids and political demonstrations—civil liberties advocates are now pushing for federal legislation requiring officers to identify themselves while operating in public. Kinzinger is calling for Congress to act immediately.
“If you’re too scared to show your face while detaining citi