California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Saturday signed legislation barring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing masks during operations in the state, a first-of-its-kind law aimed at boosting transparency.
Newsom said the measure prevents ICE officers from being “hidden from accountability,” arguing masks obstruct public oversight. “That’s Trump’s America but that’s not the America we’ve grown up in. And so we are pushing back,” he said during remarks at a California high school.
The move comes amid heightened immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump. Federal raids in Los Angeles this summer led to protests and the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines without Newsom’s approval. Authorities reported 5,000 arrests in Los Angeles between June and August. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defended the operations, warning that anyone who resists law enforcement “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Newsom condemned the raids, emphasizing California’s identity as a diverse, majority-minority state. “At our best, we celebrate that diversity. It’s what makes California great. It’s what makes America great. And it’s under assault by this administration,” he said.
The governor’s office also criticized Noem directly, prompting sharp backlash from DHS officials.
Sources
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