Overview

• Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 627, the “No Secret Police Act,” prohibiting local and federal officers from wearing ski masks, neck gaiters, or other face coverings during official duties, with exceptions for undercover work and medical masks.
• DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the department will not abide by the law, calling it unconstitutional and citing a sharp rise in assaults on ICE personnel and doxxing of agents’ families.
• The law makes California the first state to restrict enforcement agents from concealing their faces during operations.
• CalMatters reporting cites Supreme Court precedents, including the Neagle decision, that prevent states from prosecuting federal officers for official acts, casting doubt on California’s ability to enforce the ban against DHS agents.
• At the signing event, Newsom urged federal agents to identify themselves during enforcement actions and to provide agency information and identification.