California lawmakers have introduced legislation that would ban local, state, and federal law enforcement officers from covering their faces while conducting official duties, a move aimed at increasing transparency amid growing public concern over masked federal agents in immigration raids. The proposal, Senate Bill 627, is backed by Democratic state Senators Scott Wiener of San Francisco and Jesse Arreguín of Oakland.
The legislation, announced Monday, follows multiple incidents involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting operations in plain clothes and face coverings, often using unmarked vehicles. "The recent federal operations in California have created an environment of profound terror," Wiener said. "If we want the public to trust law enforcement, we cannot allow them to behave like secret police in an authoritarian state."
The bill would make it a misdemeanor for officers to conceal their faces during public interactions unless they are part of SWAT teams, responding to natural disasters, or wearing transparent riot gear. Exemptions would also apply to National Guard troops and officers using medical masks.
Critics of the bill, particularly California Republicans, condemned the proposal as politically motivated and potentially dangerous. "This bill is nothing more than an attempt to legislatively dox our law enforcement officers," California Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones told Newsweek. "At a time when federal agents are literally under attack in our state, California's leaders should be rallying behind law enforcement."
ICE officials argue the use of masks is a necessary measure to protect agent identities. "I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line... because people don't like what immigration enforcement is," ICE acting director Todd Lyons said during a news conference in Boston announcing the results of a 1,500-person arrest operation.
Videos showing masked agents apprehending individuals in unmarked vehicles have circulated widely online, prompting accusations from civil rights groups and local officials that the tactics erode public trust and blur lines between law enforcement and paramilitary behavior. Wiener said: "We are seeing more and more law enforcement officers, particularly at the federal level, covering their faces entirely, not identifying themselves at all... it's terrifying."
The proposed law could face legal challenges over its enforcement, particularly when applied to federal officers. "If they are following federal directives, they are following federal law," said Ed Obayashi, a California special prosecutor and policing expert.
Obayashi noted that local and state officers in California are already required to wear uniforms with visible insignia and name tags. The new proposal seeks to extend similar standards to all agents operating in the state, regardless of jurisdiction.
Despite Republican opposition, the bill is expected to advance in California's Democrat-controlled legislature. Arreguín emphasized the bill's goal of reinforcing public accountability, stating: "Our first responders are responsible for vital work in protecting our communities, and trust and accountability are a key aspects in keeping our neighborhoods safe."
