California's governor has signed a bill to ban local and federal law enforcement officers, including with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from wearing face masks while on duty.
The ban, which comes into effect on 1 January 2026, is part of a series of bills that aims to protect residents from what Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has called secret police roaming the streets.
US Attorney Bill Essayli, a Trump appointee, stated that California has no jurisdiction over the federal government, asserting that the law has no effect on our operations and agents will continue to protect their identities.
The ban is a response to federal agents donning masks during recent immigration raids in Los Angeles.
The law does make exceptions for undercover agents, masks required to guard against disease or wildfires, and tactical gear.
President Donald Trump has prioritized ramping up immigration enforcement in his second term, which has formed the backdrop to this legislative change. In June, violent protests erupted in LA over a series of immigration raids, leading Trump to deploy 700 US Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to manage the unrest.
California State Senator Scott Wiener, who authored the bill, emphasized that “No one wants masked officers roaming their communities and kidnapping people with impunity. California will continue to stand for the rule of law and for basic freedoms.”
The legislation arrives against a backdrop where the Supreme Court has allowed immigration enforcement stops in LA without requiring reasonable suspicion - potentially enabling racial profiling.
In tandem with the ban on face coverings, another new bill requires law enforcement to disclose their name and badge number while executing their duties.
Additional bills signed by Newsom also restrict school officials from permitting federal immigration agents access to school sites without a warrant, and require families to be notified when officers arrive at their children’s schools. Non-public areas of hospitals and emergency rooms are similarly off-limits without judicial warrants.
Governor Newsom stated, “Immigrants have rights and we have the right to stand up and push back.” Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denounced California’s new legislation as despicable, arguing it endangers officers who risk their lives daily.
This legislation represents a continuation of local officials challenging federal immigration priorities as tensions remain high in the ongoing discourse over immigration policy in the United States.
