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', claiming the law has 'no effect on our operations' and that agents 'will continue to protect their identities'.
The ban is a direct response to federal agents wearing masks during Los Angeles immigration raids.
The law does make exceptions for undercover agents, masks used to protect against disease or wildfires, and tactical gear.
President Donald Trump has intensified immigration enforcement as a major agenda item in his second term. In June, widespread federal immigration raids in Los Angeles triggered violent protests against the Trump administration and ICE.
In reaction to the unrest, Trump deployed 700 US Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles.
California State Senator Scott Wiener, a Democrat representing San Francisco, cited community concerns: 'No one wants masked officers roaming their communities and kidnapping people with impunity.' He affirmed, 'California will continue to stand for the rule of law and for basic freedoms.'
The new legislation arrives following a Supreme Court ruling allowing immigration enforcement operations in LA to continue without needing reasonable suspicion that a person is undocumented. This ruling permits questioning and detaining individuals based solely on their race, language, or employment.
Alongside the mask prohibition, another key bill mandates law enforcement officials to identify themselves with both name and badge number while on duty.
Other laws signed by Newsom on the same day prevent school officials from allowing federal agents to enter schools without a warrant, court order, or judicial subpoena. Parents must also be notified when officers approach their children's educational facilities. Moreover, student information and classrooms are safeguarded under these regulations.
Non-public areas of hospitals and emergency rooms are off-limits to officers without judicial warrants or court orders.
'Immigrants have rights, and we have the right to stand up and push back,' Governor Newsom emphasized.
In response to California's legislation, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned it as 'despicable' and termed it a 'flagrant attempt to endanger our officers.' She asserted that ICE and other federal agents 'put their lives on the line every day' in their roles.
This scenario is not novel, as local leaders have previously defied the White House. In August, Chicago's mayor implemented an order outlining how the city would resist potential immigration crackdowns launched by the Trump administration.
