California Bans ICE Agents From Wearing Masks in Sweeping New Law

LOS ANGELES, California (TAV) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a groundbreaking law Sept. 20 that prohibits most law enforcement officers, including ICE agents and other federal officers, from concealing their faces while on duty.

“Immigrants have rights and we have the right to stand up and push back,” Newsom said at an event in Los Angeles where he signed the legislation.

The measure, known as the No Secret Police Act, is part of a broader legislative package aimed at curbing immigration enforcement tactics that Newsom and other Democrats have likened to “secret police” operations. The law directly targets ICE by banning its agents from wearing masks during raids in California, while also requiring all federal and local officers to display their badge numbers or names in most situations.

“Most federal officers are now banned from concealing their faces,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Most law enforcement [officers] are now required to publicly display their agency and name or badge number.”

He added during the signing event, “To ICE, [which is] unmasked. What are you afraid of? You’re gonna do enforcement? Provide an ID.”

The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, making California the first state to impose such rules on federal officers operating within its borders.

Protecting Schools and Hospitals

The mask ban is part of a broader legislative package Newsom described as a response to “lawless immigration raids and arrests” during Donald Trump’s presidency. His office highlighted new protections for children and patients in sensitive public spaces.

“California is fighting to end this chaos by requiring schools and public hospitals to limit access and implement privacy protocols to protect against Trump’s immigration chaos,” Newsom posted. “Schools are now required to work with families and personnel to develop notification protocols when immigration authorities are present on campus.”

The package included additional measures:

• AB 49: Bans immigration officers from entering schools without a warrant.
• SB 805: Requires law enforcement officers to identify themselves.
• SB 81: Restricts immigration enforcement in hospitals without a court order.
• SB 98: Requires schools to notify communities when immigration enforcement is on campus, according to CalMatters.

“Public safety depends on trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, but Trump and Miller have shattered that trust and spread fear across America. California is putting an end to it and making sure schools and hospitals remain what they should be: places of care, not chaos,” Newsom said.

Clash With Federal Authorities

The legislation has already stirred tension with federal agencies. The Department of Homeland Security urged Newsom to veto the bill, calling it “despicable” and accusing sanctuary-state politicians of trying to stop officers from protecting themselves from being “doxed and targeted,” CalMatters reported. The department has since signaled it will not comply, arguing California lacks authority to regulate federal officers.

Critics also warned the law could jeopardize officer safety, especially for immigration agents who may be targeted outside of work. Supporters counter that masked raids, often carried out in unmarked vehicles, erode trust in law enforcement and intimidate entire communities. “It’s like a dystopian sci-fi movie,” Newsom said. “Unmarked cars. People in masks. People quite literally disappearing. No due process.”

Political Reactions

The law has drawn both sharp criticism and strong support. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass praised the measure.

“All of this legislative resistance is to protect Angelenos from their own federal government. That is profound,” Bass said, according to a CalMatters report.

Veteran GOP political consultant Mike Madrid said the laws may be more symbolic than practical, but argued that “symbolism matters.” He added, “California is the tip of the spear in resisting Trump’s immigration agenda.”

Legal and Political Stakes

Whether California can enforce the mask ban against federal officers remains an open question. Legal experts are divided on whether federal supremacy will override the state’s restrictions. Still, the move underscores California’s willingness to confront federal power on immigration enforcement, a stance that has defined the state’s political identity in recent years.

By folding the measure into a broader effort to defend immigrant rights, Newsom is betting that the law will resonate beyond California. Its passage sets up another likely court battle between state and federal governments. It could establish a precedent for other states looking to limit what they see as overreach by federal agencies.

Leading the Nation

California’s No Secret Police Act is unlikely to end the conflict over immigration enforcement. But by requiring identification and banning face coverings for most officers, the state is signaling a sharp rejection of what it sees as fear tactics. Whether the law survives legal challenges or changes federal practices remains uncertain. For now, California has positioned itself as the first state to demand that law enforcement officers, federal and local alike, step into the light.