California lawmakers on Thursday approved a measure that would bar most law enforcement officers from covering their faces while on duty, sending the first-in-the-nation bill of its kind to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
If Newsom signs the bill, it would prohibit local and state officers and most federal agents acting in California from wearing neck gaiters, ski masks and other coverings while carrying out official business, with exceptions for undercover operations, medically necessary masks such as N95 respirators and approved tactical gear. Newsom has roughly a month to act on the legislation.
Supporters framed the bill as a response to recent immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles in which some federal agents used face coverings and sought to conceal their identities. The measure’s sponsors pointed to a U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this week that lifted limits on Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in the Los Angeles area, a ruling that critics say restores broad authority for federal agents to carry out arrests in the region.
"How is anyone supposed to reasonably believe that they are law enforcement officers and not masked individuals trying to kidnap you?" Assemblymember Juan Carrillo, a Democrat who supported the bill, said ahead of the vote. He and other backers argued that unmasked officers help preserve public trust and reduce fear among communities targeted by immigration enforcement actions.
Legal scholars cited by proponents say a state cannot directly regulate the federal government but that does not mean federal employees can ignore state rules unless doing so would significantly interfere with their duties. Constitutional law expert Erwin Chemerinsky wrote in the Sacramento Bee that federal employees are not automatically exempt from state rules unless compliance would hamper federal functions.
Opponents, including Republican lawmakers and some law enforcement organizations, said the ban would endanger officers. "Bad guys wear masks because they don't want to get caught. Good guys wear masks because they don't want to get killed," GOP state Sen. Kelly Seyarto said, arguing the legislation would increase risks to personnel.
Federal officials have defended the use of face coverings by immigration agents, saying personnel have faced rising harassment in public and online. Several state attorneys general and civil rights advocates counter that agents’ use of masks has fueled fear and hindered cooperation with law enforcement, particularly in immigrant communities.
The bill’s passage follows months of federal immigration activity in Southern California. ICE has conducted raids in the region since June, prompting protests and the deployment of the National Guard and U.S. Marines to assist with public safety and security operations. The Supreme Court decision removing prior limitations on Los Angeles-area raids was cited by bill proponents as an urgent reason for state action.
Lawmakers in several other states have introduced similar measures — including Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania — and Democrats in Congress have proposed a federal prohibition on face coverings by law enforcement. Whether California can enforce the new restriction against federal agents remains uncertain and could prompt legal challenges if Newsom signs the bill.
The measure now moves to the governor’s desk amid competing claims about public safety and civil liberties. Supporters say unmasked officers will increase transparency and community trust; critics say the prohibition could hinder officer safety and complicate interactions with federal law enforcement operating under federal authority. The state’s response and any ensuing court fights are likely to shape how the rule is applied in areas with ongoing federal immigration enforcement.