Halloween is around the corner, but one “costume” has been generating real fear for months — and posing a real threat. Across the country, people posing as federal immigration officers are showing up at homes, flashing fake badges, and threatening residents for profit. 

Today the County Board of Supervisors approved a multi-pronged response by Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer to confront the rise in fake agents, the companies profiting by selling this equipment, and the deeper accountability crisis enabling this behavior.

“It should not be possible to buy a fake uniform and federal badge online as easily as a Halloween costume,” said Supervisor Lawson-Remer, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “We are using every legal tool available to shut down this dangerous industry and protect our residents.”

A recent CNN investigation that found more reports of ICE impersonators this year than during the last four presidential terms combined.

While the spike in impostors is alarming on its own, Lawson-Remer noted that it reflects a larger culture of secrecy within federal enforcement operations. When legitimate officers operate without oversight or transparency, it becomes nearly impossible for the public to distinguish them from impostors — eroding trust and deterring residents from seeking help from law enforcement.

“When real federal agents refuse to identify themselves, hide their faces, and detain citizens and noncitizens alike, it blurs the line between law enforcement and lawlessness,” said Lawson-Remer. “That chaos creates an opening for criminals to step in, exploit fear, and profit from deception.”

Supervisor Lawson-Remer’s proposal directs San Diego County Counsel to pursue cease-and-desist actions against companies profiting from the sale of fake law enforcement gear — including jackets, badges, patches, and vests that mimic U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Many of these items are widely available online for minimal cost, enabling impersonators to operate with alarming credibility.

In approving the plan, the Board of Supervisors also directed County staff to coordinate with state and federal regulators to halt the sale and distribution of counterfeit enforcement equipment and close the loopholes that make these scams possible.

Lawson-Remer is also urging Congress to act, and today’s vote enlists the County of San Diego as an official supporter of Senator Alex Padilla’s VISIBLE Act, which would require immigration officers to clearly identify themselves and ban the use of face coverings that obscure their identities during enforcement actions.

“When the public can’t tell the difference between real officers and fake ones, everyone loses,” Lawson-Remer said. “That’s why San Diego County is stepping up to demand accountability from entities enabling criminals to take advantage of our communities.”