Federal judge blocks California law that bans ICE agents from wearing masks

[FBaggins]

Source: ABC7

A California law banning law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, from wearing masks was blocked by a U.S. district court judge on Monday in a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration.

In blocking the law, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder said the law's exemption for state police discriminates against federal agents included in the ban.

The "No Secret Police Act" prohibits any law enforcement officer from wearing a facial covering in the performance of their duties, with a few exceptions, including SWAT team duties and in undercover operations. It was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September of last year. It notably names city, county and other local agencies, plus federal law enforcement agencies, but does not include law enforcement officers employed by the state.

Although Snyder blocked the mask ban, she upheld the state's "No Vigilantes Act," which was signed into law at the same time. The law requires any law enforcement officer operating in California to visibly display identification that includes their agency and either their name or badge number. Like the "No Secret Police Act," this law also has exceptions for certain operations, though it notably also applies to state police.

Read more: https://abc7.com/post/us-district-judge-blocks-california-law-bans-ice-agents-wearing-masks/18575550/

[PSPS]

1. I agree with the ruling. There's no reason the state police should be exempt.

[TomSlick]

3. Holding federal agents to a higher standard than state agents was begging that the law be struck down.

Come on California legislature. You can do better than this.

[Seeking Serenity]

2. This isn't surprising

I pretty much knew from when it was proposed that the law had Supremacy Clause problems.

Does Cali have a full-time, year-round legislature?

[GJGCA]

9. You are kidding, right? Yes since 1966

After the organizational meeting, both houses are in recess until the first Monday in January, except when the first Monday is January 1 or January 1 is a Sunday, in which case they meet the following Wednesday. Aside from the recess, the legislature is in session year-round.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Legislature

[Seeking Serenity]

10. Hey, cut me some slack. I'm not all that familiar with the ins and outs of California government

I come from a strong executive and a part-time legislature state where the General Assembly only meets in regular session in odd-numbered years for at most four months or so.

[GJGCA]

11. Yes, too snarky, sorry. TX I presume?

[Seeking Serenity]

12. Close. It is in the South.

(Don't want to PL too much.)

[Polybius]

4. Good decision

It was overreach, Cali can't tell the feds what to wear (or in this case, what not to wear). Bill Clinton judge too.

[FBaggins]

6. I generally agree, but I don't think the judge does

The judge seems to be saying that they can... as long as they require the same thing of state law enforment.

I don't expect that to stand if CA tries... but it could get past the 9th circuit

[NoMoreRepugs]

5. It brought awareness to the public maybe??

[Jose Garcia]

7. Just as predicted:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143528782#post6

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. MaddowBlog-The question Republicans still don't know how to answer: Why should ICE agents wear masks?

Last edited Wed Feb 11, 2026, 04:56 PM - Edit history (1)

Masked agents are at odds with the American tradition, Americans’ attitudes and the standards of every other official in American law enforcement

The question Republicans still don’t know how to answer: Why should ICE agents wear masks? - MS NOW

apple.news/ACa0qld2KTKS...

— (@oc88.bsky.social) 2026-02-10T22:54:25.729Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/the-question-republicans-still-dont-know-how-to-answer-why-should-ice-agents-wear-masks

Every day, in communities nationwide, police officers do their jobs with a high degree of transparency: The public can see the officers’ faces, badge numbers, rank and, in most instances, even their surnames featured on uniforms. Though many cops are forced to deal with threats and violence, there isn’t a police department in the United States that allows officers to wear masks or hide their identities while they carry out day-to-day duties.

Indeed, that’s the American norm across agencies, departments and jurisdictions. State troopers don’t wear masks. Neither do FBI agents. U.S. marshals don’t wear masks; sheriffs don’t wear masks; judges and prosecutors don’t wear masks; and Secret Service agents don’t wear masks.....

By and large, Republican policymakers don’t seem to care, though they keep struggling with the same obvious question: Why should ICE agents have the kind of secrecy that’s at odds with the American tradition, Americans’ attitudes and the standards of every other person who works in American law enforcement?

REP. STEIL: Some Dems demands put at risk the safety of members of law enforcement

CNBC: You mean like taking off their masks and having a badge that shows who they are?

STEIL: Well, they're known to their supervisors

CNBC: No other law enforcement officials in the US are allowed to wear masks

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-02-09T13:32:42.812Z

....Pressed on why ICE agents are receiving special dispensation, Steil added that immigration agents are subject to a unique threat environment that includes being doxxed.

That might sound vaguely compelling, but the details matter. MS NOW contributor Philip Bump explained:

What the Department of Homeland Security has long argued is that this is dangerous for the officers. Assaults against Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents surged in 2025, we have been told. Agents must protect their identities in order to keep themselves safe from this uptick in hostility and violence.

A review of DHS and ICE press releases since January 2025, though, indicates that this theoretical scenario has never actually occurred. At no point in time has an officer been seen conducting his work, identified and subsequently attacked. While there have been threats issued against agents and incidents of off-duty harassment, there are no known incidents in which an officer was assaulted while off-duty because he was identified as a federal agent.

But while GOP officials continue to search for a talking point that stands up to scrutiny, spare a thought for appointed Republican Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio, who suggested some federal immigration agents are wearing masks for warmth.

FOX NEWS: When it comes to masks & federal agents, is that something Republicans will stand firm on?

HUSTED: That's something for the president, and Tom Homan, & DHS to determine what's safe. It's been below 0 in Mpls. If you're going to be doing work outside, having a mask on is a practical issue

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-02-10T14:32:17.050Z

“It’s been below zero in Minneapolis,” he told Fox News on Tuesday morning. “If you’re going to be doing work outside, having a mask on is sort of a practical issue.”

It’s the sort of comment that makes one wonder: If Democrats proposed banning masks on agents starting in June, would Husted and his GOP colleagues consider it?