Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Saturday that bans law enforcement officers in California from wearing face coverings while doing their official jobs.
The bill, which Newsom received on Wednesday, makes it a misdemeanor for local, state, or federal law enforcement to wear masks or other disguises during their work. The rule does not apply to undercover officers or those doing tactical operations that require protective gear.
It also allows civil penalties for officers who commit certain crimes, like false imprisonment or false arrest, while wearing a mask.
Announcing the bill, Newsom criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, asking, “What are you afraid of?”
He said, “Unmarked cars, people in masks, people quite literally disappearing. No due process, no rights — no rights in a democracy where we have rights, immigrants have rights. We have the right to stand up and push back, and that’s what we’re doing here today.”
The law comes after several immigration raids in Los Angeles, where federal agents wore masks to protect their identities. Photos of these raids are often taken from behind because agents fear for their safety and the safety of their families.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said federal agents already have to identify themselves and wear clothing that shows they work for ICE or Homeland Security.
“Another day, another sanctuary politician pulling a stunt in an attempt to get their 15 minutes of fame while endangering DHS personnel and detainees,” McLaughlin wrote. “The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line every day to arrest violent criminal illegal aliens to protect and defend the lives of American citizens.”
McLaughlin also noted that assaults against ICE officers have increased by 1,000%, raising concerns about their safety and their families’ safety.
Several other states, including Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, have introduced similar laws, according to The Associated Press.
It is still unclear how the new California bill will be enforced.
