Clinton-Appointed Judge Blocks Newsom’s “No Secret Police” Law Targeting ICE Agents
A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking California from enforcing a contentious new law that sought to prohibit federal immigration agents from wearing masks while on duty. The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder—a Bill Clinton appointee—halts the implementation of Senate Bill 627, known as the “No Secret Police Act,” which Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law last September.
The Ruling: “Unlawful Discrimination” Against Federal Agents
Judge Snyder ruled that the California statute violated the doctrine of “intergovernmental immunity” by singling out federal law enforcement for restrictions that did not apply equally to state officers. The law banned federal agents, including those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from wearing face masks or gaiters to conceal their identities, but it contained exemptions for California state law enforcement officers.
“The intergovernmental immunity doctrine prohibits imposing such a regulatory burden… in a discriminatory manner against the federal government,” Snyder wrote in her decision. By targeting federal agencies while carving out exceptions for local police, the state effectively violated the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prevents states from impeding federal operations.
Background: The “No Secret Police” Act
The blocked legislation, SB 627, was authored by State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and was part of a package of bills aimed at increasing transparency in policing. The law required uniformed officers to display their names or badge numbers and prohibited the use of masks to conceal identity, except in specific scenarios like undercover work or medical necessity.
Proponents of the bill argued that the use of face masks by federal agents during immigration sweeps creates an atmosphere of fear and lack of accountability. Senator Wiener has previously characterized masked federal agents as behaving like “thugs,” arguing that citizens have a right to know the identity of those exercising police power in their communities.
Safety Concerns and “Doxing” Risks
The Department of Justice (DOJ) challenged the law, arguing that stripping agents of their ability to conceal their identities would endanger them. Federal attorneys contended that “unmasking” agents exposes them to retaliation, harassment, and “doxing”—the malicious publication of private information—by activists and extremist groups.
The tweet circulating regarding the ruling echoes this concern, stating, “You don’t get to endanger federal agents so leftist extremists can dox and target them.” While Judge Snyder expressed skepticism that masks were strictly “essential” for agent safety in all contexts, her ruling ultimately hinged on the legal failure of the state to apply the rule consistently across both state and federal jurisdictions.
What Comes Next
The injunction prevents California from enforcing the mask ban against federal agents while the lawsuit proceeds. However, the legal battle is likely far from over. Following the ruling, Senator Wiener indicated that the state legislature may attempt to amend the law to remove the exemptions for state officers, thereby applying the mask ban to all law enforcement personnel in California to circumvent the judge’s discrimination finding.
For now, federal agents operating in California remain permitted to wear face coverings during enforcement operations, securing a significant legal victory for the DOJ and ICE.
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