California Bans Masked Detentions & Challenges ICE’s Tactics

California has taken a bold step against federal immigration crackdowns with Governor Gavin Newsom signing the “No Secret Police Act,” a first-of-its-kind law banning officers from wearing masks while on duty, except in specific cases like riot gear, medical necessity, or undercover work. Speaking in Los Angeles, Newsom declared that masked detentions represent “Trump’s America,” where communities are terrorized by agents “hidden from accountability, any transparency, any oversight.” He stressed that federal agents had operated unmasked in the state for years, calling the recent use of masks “a new construct conceived to terrorize our diverse communities.”

The law comes in direct response to rising Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in California, particularly in Los Angeles, where masked agents have detained people without identification or visible agency affiliation. Newsom signed additional bills requiring officers to display their names or badge numbers, mandating schools to notify parents and staff if immigration agents are present, and prohibiting ICE from entering schools or health care facilities without a warrant. Together, these measures aim to protect vulnerable communities and reinforce transparency.

Legal experts believe the law sets an important precedent. UC Davis law professor Raquel Aldana argued, “At some point, the answer has to be ‘no,’ and I think this is what the state of California is trying to do. Establish limits as to how much the federal government can do within the jurisdiction of the state.” While acknowledging that the measure may face legal challenges, Aldana highlighted its role in asserting state sovereignty against federal overreach.

Grassroots advocates see the law as critical. Giselle Garcia of NorCal Resist explained that ICE agents in masks have harassed and assaulted court observers who ask them to identify themselves. She emphasized that codifying limits creates “a basis for litigation to really challenge when there’s a federal government abuse happening.” From her perspective, the law not only exposes ICE’s intimidation tactics but also empowers communities to push back.

Though police unions and sheriffs’ groups have opposed the measure, claiming it endangers officers, immigrant rights advocates maintain that public safety is undermined when people are detained by masked figures with no accountability. As Garcia put it, the bill is “helpful even if it’s not enforceable,” because it shines a light on ICE’s culture of fear. For communities targeted by mass deportations, California’s law offers a vital tool of resistance against what they view as a campaign of intimidation.

Link: NPR