A federal agent at the U.S Immigration Court as agents detain people after their immigration court hearings on May 21, 2025, in Phoenix.
Sacramento, California – A new bill introduced in the California State Senate on Monday would make it a misdemeanor for most law enforcement officers in the state to cover their faces while performing official duties. The proposal, announced by State Senators Scott Wiener of San Francisco and Jesse Arreguin of Berkeley and Oakland, aims to reinforce public trust in law enforcement by requiring officers to be clearly identifiable by both face and uniform.
The legislation would not apply to the National Guard or active military personnel, and it makes exceptions for SWAT operations and emergency responses to natural disasters. However, for most policing scenarios—such as routine patrols, arrests, and public demonstrations—the measure would require visible identification, including name badges or other unique markers.
“We are seeing more and more law enforcement officers, particularly at the federal level, covering their faces entirely, not identifying themselves at all and, at times, even wearing army fatigues,” Wiener said during Monday’s announcement. “We can’t tell if these are law enforcement officers or a vigilante militia.”
The proposal follows a series of federal immigration raids earlier this month in Los Angeles that prompted widespread public outrage. On June 6, masked federal agents detained over 100 people across the city, triggering protests that continued for several days. Immigrant rights advocates say they have been unable to locate or communicate with many of those detained. In response, President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops and Marines to the area, further escalating tensions.
Wiener and Arreguin cited recent raids conducted by federal officers wearing face coverings and concealing their badges not only in Los Angeles but in cities across the state, including San Diego, San Francisco, Concord, Downey, and Montebello. Video footage showing unmarked vehicles and masked officers pulling people off streets has been widely circulated on social media in recent weeks, fueling calls for increased accountability.
“Law enforcement officers are public servants,” Wiener said. “People should be able to see their faces, see who they are, know who they are. Otherwise, there is no transparency and no accountability.”
Federal officials, however, have defended the use of face coverings. Todd Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said officers wear masks to protect themselves from online harassment and physical threats. “I’m sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks,” Lyons said earlier this month, “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.”
