los angeles — A federal judge on Monday blocked a California law from going into effect that would prevent federal immigration agents from covering their faces, but they will still be required to wear clear identification that shows their agency and badge number.
California became the first state to ban most law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings under a bill signed into law in September after a summer of high-profile raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Los Angeles.
Trump administration I filed a lawsuit In November, he challenged the laws, arguing that they would threaten the safety of officers who face harassment, defamation and violence, and that they violated the Constitution because the state directly regulates the federal government.
Judge Christina Snyder said she issued the initial ruling because the mask ban as enacted also did not apply to state law enforcement, discriminating against the federal government. The ruling could have national implications as states grapple with how to deal with federal agents carrying out the Trump administration’s anti-immigration crackdown.
It left open the possibility of future legislation prohibiting federal agents from wearing masks if it applied to all law enforcement agencies, with Snyder writing, “The Court holds that federal officers can perform their federal functions without wearing masks.” The ruling will take effect on February 19.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill in September that prohibits some law enforcement officers from doing so Wear masks, neck gaiters, and other face coverings. It was scheduled to take effect on January 1 but was delayed due to the lawsuit.
In addition to exempting state law enforcement officers, it made exceptions for undercover agents, protective equipment such as N95 respirators or tactical gear, and other situations where failure to wear a mask could jeopardize the operation. Snyder sided with the federal government, which said the exemption was discriminatory against federal agents.
Newsom also signed a law requiring law enforcement to wear visible identification showing their agency number and badge while on duty, which the federal government challenged but a judge upheld. In a statement, Newsom called the judge’s decision “a clear victory for the rule of law.”
California State Sen. Scott Wiener, who proposed the original bill to ban face coverings, said Monday he would immediately introduce new legislation to include state police in the law.
“ICE and the Border Patrol are covering their faces to further their campaign of terror and to insulate themselves from accountability,” Weiner said in a press release. “We will ensure that our mask ban can be enforced.”
At a hearing on January 14, Snyder repeatedly asked the government’s lawyer, Tiberius Davis, to explain why a mask ban would hinder federal law enforcement in carrying out their duties, if officers rarely wear masks before 2025.
Davis cited claims by the US Department of Homeland Security that there has been a multi-faceted increase in assaults and threats against federal officers. He also brought up an incident in Los Angeles where three women were accused of live streaming while broadcasting After the ICE agent home and posted the address on Instagram.
“There is a real deterrent to an officer’s safety and ability to perform their duties,” Davis said.
Cameron Bell, a California Department of Justice lawyer, disputed his claims, saying there was no concrete evidence that federal agents could not perform their duties without… Face coverings.
Bell referred to statements by American citizens who were arrested by federal agents but believed they had been kidnapped.
“It is clear why these laws are in the public interest,” Bell said.
The federal government also argued in its legal briefs that allowing California’s legislation could “embolden other states to impose similar unconstitutional restrictions.”
Davis cited a statement from Newsom in July 2025 During the interview He posted online where he discussed the mask ban bill, saying, “It appears we do not have the legal authority of federal agents but we do have the legal authority of other law enforcement.”
Los Angeles County supervisors voted in December to enact a local law prohibiting law enforcement from wearing masks, which took effect on January 8. However, the Sheriff’s Department said it would not enforce the law until after a court rules a statewide mask ban. The Los Angeles Police Department also said it would not enforce the mask ban.