Eric Swalwell vows to strip driver’s licenses from masked ICE officers: 'You're not going to be eligible to drive'

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Eric Swalwell has pledged that if he becomes the governor, he would revoke the driver’s licenses of federal immigration agents who wear masks while operating in California.

This stance follows the implementation of a state law designed to stop ICE officers from concealing their identities, a measure currently facing intense legal challenges from the federal government.

Eric Swalwell vows to strip licenses from masked agents

Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who is running for governor, shared his vision for state-level immigration oversight during an appearance on MS NOW, when asked about what he brings to the table as a leader of the state. 

In response, Swalwell said the governor holds significant power to protect residents and must use that authority to ensure federal agents are identifiable. 

Highlighting his plan to target the driving privileges of those who remain anonymous, Swalwell stated, "if the President is going to send ICE agents to chase immigrants to the fields where they work, what I'm going to do is make sure that they take off their masks and show their faces, that they show their identification, and if they commit crimes, that they're going to be charged with crimes.”

He added, “If the governor has the ability to issue driver's licenses to people in California, if you're going to wear a mask and not identify yourself, you're not going to be eligible to drive a vehicle in California."

Eric Swalwell supports new law banning masked federal agents

Swalwell’s comments come as a new California law banning mask-wearing by ICE agents officially took effect. 

Governor Gavin Newsom, who signed the bill in September, emphasized that the goal was to ensure federal officers would no longer be 'hidden from accountability.' 

However, the Department of Homeland Security has refused to comply, and the Trump administration has challenged the ban in court, claiming it violates the US Constitution. 

While the state briefly agreed to pause enforcement in December, US District Judge Christina Snyder recently denied a federal request for an injunction, moving the case toward a crucial hearing on January 12.

California and the federal government clash over immigration authority

The conflict highlights the growing friction between California and the federal government following a surge in immigration enforcement. 

Federal authorities argue that the state has no legal right to regulate federal employees, with Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli noting, "California has no authority to regulate federal agents." 

This dispute follows a year of heavy enforcement actions and public unrest, including June protests in Los Angeles that led to a deployment of the National Guard and Marines. 

While a judge later ruled that military deployment is unconstitutional, the state remains a central place for immigration policy, with over 2 million undocumented residents living within its borders.