California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the “No Secret Police Act” and the “No Vigilantes Act” on Saturday in Los Angeles, aiming to curb the use of masks by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The legislation, Senate Bill 627 and Senate Bill 805, targets federal and local law enforcement officers, requiring them to be identifiable during operations.
The signing ceremony, attended by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other local officials, marked California as the first state to ban federal agents from wearing masks. Governor Newsom criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies, likening them to a “dystopian sci-fi movie” with masked agents detaining immigrants. According to the Los Angeles Times, Newsom stated, “We’re not North Korea,” emphasizing the need for transparency in law enforcement.
The new laws come amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement in California, a state with a large immigrant population. The Deadline reported that the legislation prohibits officers from covering their faces during operations, including immigration raids, and requires them to display identification. SB 805, effective immediately, bans bounty hunters from participating in immigration activities and mandates that officers in plainclothes display their agency affiliation and badge number.
The law takes effect next year and will likely face a legal challenge by federal officials.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli called Newsom’s comments a “direct or implicit threat” and requested a threat assessment from the Secret Service. On Saturday morning on X, he said:
The State of California has no jurisdiction over the federal government. If Newsom wants to regulate our agents, he must go through Congress. I’ve directed our federal agencies that the law signed today has no effect on our operations. Our agents will continue to protect their identities. When can we expect CA to pass a law banning Antifa members from wearing masks while committing state and federal crimes? I’ll wait…
The measures have sparked criticism from federal officials, with the Department of Homeland Security arguing that masks are necessary for officer safety.
In a statement to KCRA3 The White House said:
“ICE officers wear masks to protect themselves and their families from being doxed. ICE officers act heroically to enforce the law and protect American communities with the utmost professionalism. Anyone pointing the finger at law enforcement officers instead of the criminals are simply doing the bidding of criminal illegal aliens.”
Recent Comments