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.
The judge’s ruling allows legislators to rewrite the ban without the exemption for state police. It’s unclear if Gov. Gavin Newsom would sign that version of the bill.
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