California Legislation Prohibits Law Enforcement from Wearing Masks

Fri Oct 17 2025 08:02:33 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A new law in California bans local and federal law enforcement officers, including ICE, from wearing face masks while on duty, effective January 1, 2026. This legislation aims to enhance transparency and protect residents from 'secret police' activities.

California's Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted a law prohibiting law enforcement officers, including those from ICE, from wearing masks while on duty starting January 1, 2026. The legislation aims to improve accountability and transparency, following federal agents' masked presence during immigration raids that sparked public outcry. The law allows exceptions for undercover operations and must be coupled with identification measures by law enforcement.

California's governor has signed a bill to ban local and federal law enforcement officers, including those 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', adding the law has 'no effect on our operations' and agents 'will continue to protect their identities'.

This ban is primarily in response to federal agents wearing masks during immigration raids in Los Angeles.

The law does allow exceptions for undercover agents, masks used for health protection, and tactical gear.

President Donald Trump had intensified immigration enforcement priorities in his second term. In June, a series of federal immigration raids sparked protests against the Trump administration and ICE, leading to the deployment of US Marines and National Guard troops to quell unrest.

California State Senator Scott Wiener, who drafted the bill, emphasized that 'no one wants masked officers roaming their communities and kidnapping people with impunity', asserting that California upholds the rule of law and freedoms.

Concurrently, the legislation follows a Supreme Court ruling permitting immigration enforcement stops in LA without reasonable suspicion that individuals may be undocumented, effectively allowing profiling based on race or language.

Aside from the mask ban, the new laws require law enforcement to identify themselves by name and badge during operations, bar federal agents from entering schools without warrants, and inform families when officers arrive at their children's schools. Additionally, non-public areas of hospitals are protected from officers lacking judicial authorization.

Governor Newsom stated, 'Immigrants have rights and we have the right to stand up and push back.' However, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the new legislation as 'despicable', suggesting it endangers federal officers. She added that officers at ICE and other agencies risk their lives daily.

This instance reflects ongoing tensions between local authorities and the federal government regarding immigration enforcement policies. Similar local challenges to federal immigration policies were observed in cities like Chicago.