Unmasking Hamas Act of 2025

Summary

Creates a new federal crime making it unlawful to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate anyone while wearing a disguise (including a mask) when doing so interferes with that person’s rights under the Constitution or federal law, punishable by fines and up to 15 years in prison. It also adds a mandatory consecutive two-year prison term when a person wears a disguise while committing certain federal property-destruction offenses. The bill expressly exempts law enforcement officers from liability when they are lawfully performing duties or enforcing laws.

• Creates a new federal crime for injuring, oppressing, threatening, or intimidating someone while disguised (including wearing a mask) if it interferes with that person’s constitutional or federal rights.
• New offense carries penalties of fines and up to 15 years in prison.
• Exempts law enforcement officers from liability when they are lawfully performing duties or lawfully enforcing laws, with a statutory definition of law enforcement officer.
• Adds a mandatory consecutive two-year prison term to existing federal property-destruction offenses when the offender is disguised while committing the offense.
• Applies nationwide in all States, Territories, Commonwealths, Possessions, and the District of Columbia.
• Applies regardless of whether the actor is acting under color of law.
• Does not create new funding or grant programs; relies on existing federal enforcement mechanisms.
• May raise constitutional challenges related to free speech, assembly, and potential vagueness or overbreadth of terms like “disguise.”
• Could substantially increase penalties in prosecutions tied to masked participation in violent protests or property destruction.
• Targets conduct (interference with rights and property destruction) rather than mask-wearing per se, but includes masks explicitly in the definition of disguise.