California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed sweeping new legislation that prohibits most local and federal law enforcement officers, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from wearing face masks while on duty. The measure, which will take effect on January 1, 2026, is aimed at curbing what Newsom has called “secret police” tactics and ensuring greater accountability in law enforcement.
The ban follows a series of controversial immigration raids in Los Angeles, where federal agents wore masks while detaining residents. Those raids sparked violent protests earlier this year and prompted President Donald Trump to deploy 700 US Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to restore order in the city.
Under the new law, officers will generally be required to show their faces, except in specific circumstances such as undercover operations, protection from disease or wildfires, and the use of tactical gear in combat situations. A companion bill also mandates that officers identify themselves by name and badge number when carrying out official duties.
State Senator Scott Wiener, the Democrat from San Francisco who authored the legislation, said the measure was designed to protect communities from abusive enforcement practices. “No one wants masked officers roaming their communities and kidnapping people with impunity,” he said. “California will continue to stand for the rule of law and basic freedoms.”
The laws also expand protections for vulnerable spaces like schools and hospitals. Federal agents will now be barred from entering school campuses without a warrant, court order, or judicial subpoena, and families must be notified if enforcement agents arrive. Similarly, non-public areas of hospitals and emergency rooms are off-limits unless officers obtain judicial approval.
Federal officials sharply condemned the legislation. US Attorney Bill Essayli, a Trump appointee, argued that California “has no jurisdiction over the federal government” and vowed that ICE operations would not be affected. The Department of Homeland Security also blasted the law, calling it “despicable” and accusing state leaders of putting officers’ safety at risk.
Newsom defended the measures, insisting that California has both a duty and a right to push back. “Immigrants have rights and we have the right to stand up and defend them,” the governor said.
Africa Digital News, New York
