Proposed California Law Would Make it a Crime For Federal Agents to Wear Masks in The State

Two California lawmakers want to ban law enforcement officers from covering their faces during operations, sparking controversy over officer safety, federal authority, and immigration enforcement.

Key Facts:

California State Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguín introduced a bill to ban law enforcement officers from wearing masks while on duty, with limited exceptions.
The bill follows recent ICE raids where federal agents allegedly concealed their identities, stirring fears in immigrant communities.
Federal officials, including the Department of Homeland Security, condemned the proposal as dangerous, warning it could expose officers to retaliation.
The law would apply to federal officers in California, though it’s unclear if the state can enforce such rules on federal agencies.
The proposal is attached as an amendment to Senate Bill 627, a housing-related bill now being redirected toward law enforcement policy.

The Rest of The Story:

Senators Wiener and Arreguín introduced the proposal in response to federal immigration raids conducted by masked agents.

At a press conference, Wiener warned, “We’re really at risk of having, effectively, secret police in this country,” suggesting ICE agents could be mistaken for local law enforcement due to concealed faces and lack of visible identification.

The bill would make it a misdemeanor for officers—local, state, or federal—to wear masks while on duty, except in cases involving SWAT operations or medical necessity.

An intent clause would encourage visible name tags on uniforms.

Homeland Security slammed the move, calling it “despicable” and warning it could lead to retaliation against ICE officers.

“We will prosecute those who dox ICE agents to the fullest extent of the law,” the agency said in a post on X.

Officials also tied rising assaults on ICE officers to public rhetoric that “vilifies” the agency.

JUST IN: Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon SLAPS around Democrat California lawmakers who have proposed a bill to unmask ICE and DHS agents even though they have ZERO jurisdiction to do so.

California Senator Scott Wiener: “We’re… pic.twitter.com/jxQGoKl2ir

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) June 16, 2025

Commentary:

Once again, California politicians are proving how far the state has fallen from being a symbol of prosperity and order to a chaotic playground for fringe ideas.

This proposal to unmask law enforcement is not about transparency—it’s about hamstringing the men and women charged with enforcing immigration law.

State Senator Wiener’s comparison of ICE agents to “Stormtroopers” reveals the anti-federal, anti-law enforcement sentiment driving this bill.

It’s an unserious, juvenile attack on professionals doing a dangerous job.

The message from Sacramento is clear: they’d rather side with illegal aliens than with the federal agents protecting U.S. citizens.

Let’s be absolutely clear—immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.

States have no constitutional authority to dictate how ICE conducts operations.

If California attempts to enforce this law against federal agents, it will almost certainly be struck down in court.

Should this bill become law, President Trump should declare it null and void under federal supremacy.

States cannot obstruct federal law enforcement any more than they can mint their own currency.

Worse, the bill puts lives at risk.

Officers wear masks to protect their identities and families from cartel-linked retaliation.

The surge in attacks on ICE officers—up 413%—should make that point obvious, but California Democrats are too ideologically blind to care.

California State Sen. Scott Wiener’s proposed legislation banning our federal law enforcement from wearing masks and his rhetoric comparing ICE to “secret police” is despicable.

While ICE officers are being assaulted by rioters, a sanctuary politician is trying to outlaw… https://t.co/2nkeIjmlgg

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 16, 2025

If California officials attempt to interfere with ICE operations or identify federal agents unlawfully, they should expect federal law enforcement to arrest and prosecute them.

We’ve already seen federal agents make arrests when local officials obstruct justice—this would be no different.

It’s one more radical step in California’s long descent from the rule of law into a political circus where criminals are coddled and law enforcement is treated like the enemy.