Los Angeles, California — A new California law barring law-enforcement officers from covering their faces while conducting operations has sparked a high-stakes legal clash between the state and the Trump administration, intensifying tensions over immigration enforcement and federal authority.
The law, which took effect Thursday, removes qualified immunity from officers who conceal their identities and allows civil lawsuits for alleged misconduct, including false arrest and malicious prosecution. It also imposes a minimum $10,000 penalty for violations. State lawmakers said the measure was prompted by a wave of 2025 immigration raids that frequently involved masked federal agents, a practice critics argue undermines accountability.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said the law ensures officers are no longer “hidden from accountability,” while Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, a Los Angeles Democrat, said it was designed to rein in anonymous federal enforcement actions. Los Angeles County supervisors approved a parallel local ban set to take effect mid-January unless blocked by the courts. Exemptions include N-95 masks and undercover operations.
The Trump administration sued to block the law, arguing California lacks authority to regulate federal agents. The Department of Homeland Security has vowed noncompliance, warning that forcing officers to reveal their identities increases risks of harassment and violence. A federal judge denied an initial request to halt enforcement, with further hearings scheduled later this month.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) escalated the dispute by vowing to revoke driver’s licenses from masked federal immigration officers if elected governor, drawing sharp criticism from law-enforcement groups who say the law puts local officers in an untenable position.
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