Rep. Ritchie Torres Introduces the Quick Response (QR) Act to Increase Transparency and Accountability in Immigration Enforcement

Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) today introduced the Quick Response Act, also known as the QR Act, into the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would modernize identification standards for federal immigration enforcement officers and improve transparency during enforcement encounters.

This legislation would require ICE and CBP officers and employees engaged in law enforcement or immigration enforcement activities to wear a clearly visible and scannable QR code on their uniform that links to an official DHS website displaying the officer’s full name, badge number, agency, operational unit or office, and verified active status. The website would also provide a secure process for submitting complaints related to officer conduct and make publicly available aggregated, non-personally identifiable data on the number of complaints received.

The Congressman intends for the QR Act to be included as part of a broader DHS reform package that would prohibit face coverings during enforcement activities and require visible badges and identification. Within that framework, the QR Act adds a secure, technology-based verification tool that allows officer identity to be confirmed without direct interaction, including by bystanders or through review after an encounter, helping prevent impersonation, reduce risk, and strengthen accountability.

The QR Act responds to widespread and growing concerns about masked and unidentified immigration officers, rampant impersonation, and enforcement actions carried out with little to no transparency or accountability. Communities across the country have documented instances in which officers conceal their identities, obscure badges, or refuse to identify themselves, undermining public trust and making it nearly impossible to hold abusive actors accountable. These practices have fueled fear, confusion, and, and avoidable deaths. By providing an immediate, secure method of verification, the bill aims to protect both the public and law enforcement personnel while reducing the risk of fraud, abuse, and misunderstanding during high-stakes encounters.

Congressmen Darren Soto (FL-09) and Shri Thanedar (MI-13) joined Rep. Torres as original co-sponsors.

The full text of the bill is attached as a PDF here.