California has enacted a first-in-the-nation law restricting law enforcement officers—including federal immigration agents—from concealing their faces during official duties. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the measure Saturday in Los Angeles alongside lawmakers, educators and immigrant advocates, framing it as a defense of transparency and civil rights in a state where more than a quarter of residents are foreign-born.
The legislation follows a wave of controversial immigration raids in Los Angeles in which federal officers, many wearing masks and lacking visible identification, conducted mass arrests. Those operations spurred street protests and prompted then-President Donald Trump to send National Guard troops and Marines to the region.
At the bill signing, Newsom likened the masked arrests to a “dystopian sci-fi movie” and argued that immigrants, like all residents, are entitled to due process. “Unmarked cars, people in masks, people disappearing—this is not democracy,” he said.
Uncertain Enforcement Against Federal Agents
The new law bars local and federal officers from wearing ski masks, neck gaiters or similar coverings while carrying out official duties, except in cases such as undercover work, medical protection or tactical operations. State police are exempt. Whether California can legally compel federal officers to comply, however, remains unclear.
Federal officials immediately condemned the measure. Acting U.S. Attorney for Southern California Bill Essayli posted on X that the state lacks jurisdiction over federal operations and instructed agencies to ignore the ban. Homeland Security’s public affairs chief Tricia McLaughlin called the policy “despicable” and accused Newsom of endangering officers already targeted by harassment and violence.
Trump administration figures argued that masks protect agents from being “doxxed” or attacked by protesters. Newsom dismissed those claims as unsubstantiated, saying federal agencies have provided no credible data showing a rise in assaults.
Broader Legislative Push and Legal Context
California Democrats framed the mask ban as part of a larger “Safe Haven” agenda to protect immigrants and rebuild trust in law enforcement. Newsom also signed a companion measure barring immigration agents from entering schools or health-care facilities without a valid warrant and requiring schools to notify staff and parents if agents appear on campus. Assembly member Al Muratsuchi said students “cannot learn if they live in fear of deportation.”
Similar proposals are circulating in other states and in Congress. Supporters say the measures reduce the risk of police impersonation and increase accountability, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to resume aggressive immigration operations in Los Angeles.
Constitutional scholars note that federal employees generally must follow state laws unless those rules substantially impede federal duties—a legal gray area that may set up future court challenges.
Meanwhile, California has already allocated $50 million to fund lawsuits against Trump-era policies. The mask ban is poised to become a new flashpoint in the broader clash between state sanctuary measures and federal immigration enforcement.
