Sunday — Redmond, Wash. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, some wearing face coverings, arrested a man in an alley near Redmond Center, as captured in a video recorded by a resident from a pedestrian trail viewpoint.
The footage shows one agent pulling a neck gaiter over his face upon noticing the camera, after which agents handcuffed the man and placed him into an unmarked vehicle, according to KING5 reporting.
The incident, published by KING5 about four days ago, has ignited calls for greater transparency from federal agents. Woodinville Councilmember Michelle Evans launched a “No Secret Police Act” petition, demanding visible badges or identifiers, marked vehicles, and no face coverings during operations.
“It highlights gaps in Washington law,” Evans stated.
(KING5 YouTube Short showing the mask-pulling moment during the arrest.)
In parallel, Senate Bill 5855, sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, advanced through the Senate Law & Justice Committee on Jan. 14, 2026. The measure seeks to prohibit face-concealing masks by law enforcement, including federal agents, during public interactions.
“It will make our marginalized immigrant communities feel safer,” Valdez said, per KING5 and state coverage.
U.S. Attorney Pete Serrano noted that states lack authority over federal operations, according to KING5.
The arrest ties into broader legislative efforts, including bills limiting ICE access to schools and workplaces, as reported by Axios Seattle. A prior November 2025 incident prompted Redmond to disable Flock safety cameras after similar masked ICE activity, per the Seattle Times.
Local discussions continue on Reddit’s r/redmond, with users sharing the video and supporting the petition.
