California Bans Most Police, Immigration Agents From Wearing Masks

California has become the first U.S. state to ban most law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while on duty, under a new law signed Saturday by Governor Gavin Newsom.

The law, a response to recent immigration raids in Los Angeles where masked federal agents conducted mass arrests, sparked immediate criticism from Trump administration officials.

At a news conference in Los Angeles, Newsom said the ban aims to restore transparency and public trust.
“Unmarked cars, people in masks, people quite literally disappearing — no due process, no rights,” the governor said. “Immigrants have rights, and we have the right to stand up and push back, and that’s what we’re doing here today.”

The new law prohibits officers from using ski masks, neck gaiters, or other face coverings while performing official duties. Exemptions include undercover work, protective medical masks, and tactical gear. State police are not covered by the ban.

The measure also restricts immigration agents from entering schools and health care facilities without a warrant and requires schools to notify parents and teachers when such agents are present.

Federal officials swiftly rejected the move, insisting California lacks authority over federal operations. Bill Essayli, acting U.S. attorney for Southern California, said the ban “has no effect” on federal law enforcement and vowed agents would continue concealing their identities for safety.

Homeland Security officials denounced the law as “despicable” and warned that it endangers officers already facing violence during immigration crackdowns. They accused Newsom of inflaming tensions and undermining national security.

Newsom countered that claims of rising assaults on officers are unsubstantiated, accusing federal officials of spreading “misinformation and misdirection.”

California lawmakers said the legislation is necessary to prevent abuse, protect immigrants from intimidation, and stop criminals from impersonating police officers. Similar proposals are being discussed in other states, including New York, Illinois, and Michigan.

The debate comes just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the Trump administration to resume its large-scale immigration operations in Los Angeles.