Bipartisan lawmakers set to unveil bill to reopen DHS, bar ICE from wearing masks

The Hill
by Mike Lillis
March 26, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Bipartisan lawmakers propose reopening DHS while restricting ICE officers from wearing masks during enforcement operations.

How This Affects You

Changes to ICE operations and DHS funding could affect immigration enforcement visibility and deportation procedures, potentially impacting undocumented immigrants and their families.

AI Summary

Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) are finalizing bipartisan legislation that would reopen the Department of Homeland Security while imposing restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, including a ban on wearing masks during operations. The Problem Solvers Caucus leaders are combining DHS funding with enforcement rules in a single proposal, an approach designed to break a stalemate between Republicans and Democrats over government spending and immigration policy. The measure reflects an attempt to find middle ground on two contentious issues that have stalled appropriations. The mask restriction targets a practice some Republicans have criticized as obscuring officer identities during raids and enforcement actions. The bill's unveiling marks a potential path forward on reopening a major federal agency while addressing Republican concerns about immigration enforcement transparency.

What's Being Done

Reps. Fitzpatrick and Suozzi are finalizing bipartisan legislation to reopen DHS with ICE operational restrictions.

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