Federal Judge Blocks California Law Banning Masks for ICE Agents
A federal judge has blocked the enforcement of a controversial California law that sought to prohibit federal immigration agents from wearing face masks during enforcement operations.
U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder issued a preliminary injunction on Monday, ruling that the state’s “No Secret Police Act” (SB 627) unconstitutionally discriminated against the federal government. The judge found that because the law imposed restrictions on federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents that did not apply to state law enforcement agencies—such as the California Highway Patrol—it violated the intergovernmental immunity doctrine.
“The law treats federal law enforcement differently than similarly situated state law enforcement officers,” Judge Snyder wrote in her decision. While the court acknowledged that the state has a valid interest in transparency, it concluded that California cannot selectively regulate federal operations while exempting its own officers from similar standards.
However, Judge Snyder denied the federal government’s request to block a companion measure, the “No Vigilantes Act” (SB 805). This law requires all law enforcement officers operating in California, including federal agents, to wear visible identification displaying their agency and either their name or badge number. The court ruled that this requirement was a neutral regulation that did not discriminate against federal authorities.
Both laws were signed by Governor Gavin Newsom last year and were originally scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. Their implementation had been paused while the court reviewed a challenge filed by the Department of Justice. The legislation was introduced in response to reports of masked federal agents conducting immigration raids, which state lawmakers argued created a lack of accountability and instilled fear in immigrant communities.
The Department of Justice had argued that the mask ban would endanger federal agents by exposing them to harassment, “doxing,” and potential violence. Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the court’s decision to block the mask prohibition, stating that the law would have compromised officer safety during sensitive operations.
State Senator Scott Wiener, the author of the bills, expressed a mix of disappointment and resolve. He welcomed the judge’s upholding of the identification requirement and her commentary suggesting that mask-wearing is not inherently necessary for federal functions. Wiener announced plans to introduce immediate legislation that would ban face coverings for all law enforcement officers in the state—both state and federal—to address the court’s concerns regarding discrimination.
“ICE and Border Patrol are covering their faces to maximize their terror campaign and to insulate themselves from accountability,” Wiener said in a statement following the ruling. “We will fix the technical issue identified by the judge and pass a universal ban on police masking.”
The ruling effectively allows ICE agents to continue wearing face coverings for the time being, provided they display the required identification. The legal battle is expected to continue as California legislators move to amend the state’s statutes.
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