California has become the first state to ban most law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while on duty. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on Saturday, citing concerns about public trust and federal overreach.
The measure comes after recent immigration raids in Los Angeles, where federal agents wore masks while conducting mass arrests. The raids sparked days of protest and prompted President Donald Trump to deploy National Guard troops and Marines to the city.
Whether California can enforce the ban on federal agents remains unclear. A Homeland Security official denounced the law as “despicable,” warning it could put officers at greater risk.
At a press conference, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) linked the legislation to protecting immigrant communities, stating: “Students cannot learn if they live in fear of being deported. The California Save Haven Schools Act is a clear message to Donald Trump: ‘keep ICE out of our schools.’”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently sent letters to attorneys general in California, Illinois, and New York, urging them to comply with ICE detainers for what DHS called “criminal illegal aliens.” DHS said it would pursue “all appropriate measures” against states that failed to cooperate.
Newsom, who has strongly opposed masked federal agents during operations, signed the law in Los Angeles alongside state lawmakers and immigrant community leaders.
The new law bans neck gaiters, ski masks, and other face coverings for local and federal officers while on duty. Exceptions include undercover work, medical masks such as N95s, and tactical gear. State police are exempt.
Trump administration officials defend mask use, saying agents face rising harassment and threats both in public and online. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said agents already wear visible ICE or DHS identifiers during operations, adding: “The men and women at CBP, ICE, and all of our federal law enforcement agencies put their lives on the line every day to arrest violent criminal illegal aliens.”
Lawmakers in several states, including Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, have introduced similar proposals. Supporters say the ban builds trust in law enforcement and helps prevent criminals from impersonating officers.
Legal scholars note the state may still apply restrictions to federal workers. Erwin Chemerinsky, constitutional law expert at UC Berkeley, argued that federal employees must generally follow state laws “unless doing so would significantly interfere with the performance of their duties. For example, while on the job, federal employees must stop at red lights.”
The law is part of a broader package of measures passed by California Democrats in response to Trump’s immigration enforcement policies. Newsom also signed bills requiring immigration agents to present valid warrants before entering schools or health care facilities, and mandating schools notify parents and teachers when agents are on campus.
Earlier this year, lawmakers approved $50 million in legal funding to fight the administration, fueling more than 40 lawsuits.
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