Gavin Newsom signs bill banning ICE agents from wearing masks during operations

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: On Saturday, September 20, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a controversial new law that bans most law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while carrying out official duties.

Senate Bill 627, known as the No Secret Police Act, will take effect January 1, 2026, and already has sparked heated debate across the country.

New law cracks down on masked agents

The bill, authored by state Senator Scott Wiener, specifically prohibits ski masks, balaclavas, gaiters, and similar face coverings worn by officers during enforcement actions. It applies to local police, state troopers, sheriffs, and even federal agents such as ICE operating in California.

Exceptions include undercover assignments, tactical raids, or medical face coverings like N95s.

In addition, the law requires officers to clearly display their badges or identification unless a valid exemption applies. Supporters argue this will make it harder for officers to intimidate residents while concealing their identities.

Gavin Newsom calls out ICE with fiery words

Gavin Newsom took direct aim at federal immigration officers as he announced the law. “To ICE: unmask. What are you afraid of?” he declared, accusing the agency of spreading fear in immigrant neighborhoods.

His comments referenced recent incidents in Los Angeles where masked ICE agents carried out raids, leaving families terrified and unsure who was knocking on their doors.

For Newsom and fellow Democrats, the ban is about accountability. “People deserve to know who is showing up at their homes. Law enforcement should never act like secret police,” one supporter said.

Federal backlash

Federal officials were quick to push back. The Department of Homeland Security blasted the law as “despicable,” warning that removing masks from agents leaves them vulnerable to retaliation.

ICE representatives say anonymity is essential because officers often face harassment, stalking, and threats against their families.

Legal experts also warn that the law may not stand up in court.

Federal supremacy laws generally override state rules when conflicts arise, raising doubts about whether California can force federal agents to comply. Lawsuits challenging SB 627 are widely expected.

Part of a bigger immigration package

The mask ban is one of several measures signed by Newsom this week aimed at tightening limits on ICE activity in the state.

Other laws prohibit immigration agents from entering schools or hospitals without a warrant, require schools to notify parents if ICE agents appear on campus, and mandate badge display during operations.

Supporters say the package protects immigrant communities from intimidation and ensures due process. Critics argue it burdens law enforcement and makes it harder to carry out legal immigration enforcement.

What happens next for SB 627?

The law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. State officials admit enforcement against federal agencies may be tricky, but insist the law is about principle. “Transparency is not optional in a democracy,” Newsom said.

For now, the spotlight remains on ICE. Whether the agency complies or fights back in court could determine how much power California truly has to set its own ground rules when it comes to immigration enforcement.