Members of the Denver City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday that prohibits law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from concealing their identities while interrogating, detaining, or arresting an individual within the City and County of Denver, including city-owned buildings.

The measure, which amends Chapter 28 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code, also sets a standard for officers to show their identity upon request.

Instances requiring a face covering for occupational health and safety, as well as undercover assignments, would be exempt.

“Anyone granted the authority to use deadly force must be held to the highest standard of accountability that starts with transparency,” Denver City Councilmember Chris Hinds said. “The public has a right to know who is exercising that power. If someone cannot do the job without hiding their identity, then they should not be entrusted with the responsibility to take a human life.”

The move comes just days after Denver Mayor Mike Johnston outlined his city’s response to civil immigration enforcement operations, including intervening to stop federal officers when local police observe them using “excessive” force.

The order also bans civil immigration enforcement activities on city-owned or city-operated property, which could include parks and facilities such as the National Western Complex.

“This is literally the bare minimum that we can do,” Denver City Councilmember Flor Alvidrez said. “And we’ve said that over and over again; this isn’t the greatest legislation ever passed to protect immigrant rights. This is literally trying to find the bare minimum that we can do to help people have some sense of safety and security in our city.”

Councilmember Paul Kashmann added, “One of the first lessons I learned as a child was that bad men wear masks. Someone comes up to my car with a mask and a gun, I don’t care what it says on their shirt or coat; I’m not opening the door, and certainly not answering it at my home, to someone wearing a mask.”

Johnston’s order may be more symbolic than enforceable, and representatives of U.S. Customs and Immigration (ICE) responded with a statement saying as much Friday.

“This is legally illiterate. No local official has the authority to bar ICE from carrying out federal law on public property — just as they cannot bar the media from reporting on city streets. Enforcing federal immigration laws is a clear federal responsibility under Article I, Article II and the Supremacy Clause.”

“While Mayor Johnston continues to release pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and murderers onto their streets, our brave law enforcement will continue to risk their lives to arrest these heinous criminals and make Denver safe again,” the statement said.

Denver Gazette news partner 9NEWS contributed to this story. To read more, visit 9NEWS.com