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33m ago

Justice Department Sues California Over ‘No Secret Police’ and ‘No Vigilantes’ Laws

The complaint argues the statutes unlawfully regulate federal agents, endangering them by restricting face coverings and identity protections.

The Justice Department sued California Monday over two laws prohibiting federal officers from wearing masks and requiring them to display their name or badge number.
FILE - Law enforcement officers stand guard during a protest, June 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File)
FILE - A woman stands off with a law enforcement officer wearing a Houston Field Office Special Response Team patch outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs building during a protest in Portland, Ore., June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent stands guard at the back entrance of Edward R. Roybal Center and Federal Building in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Overview

  • The DOJ filed suit against California, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Attorney General Robert Bonta, challenging two new state laws that it says target federal law enforcement.
  • The complaint contends the measures discriminate against and attempt to regulate the federal government in violation of the Constitution’s preemption principles.
  • Federal officials say the laws heighten risks of doxxing, harassment, and violence against agents and could chill sensitive and undercover operations.
  • The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and is presented as part of a broader Civil Division campaign after similar actions in New York, New Jersey, and Los Angeles.
  • The challenged ‘No Secret Police Act’ includes a face-covering ban slated to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, with limited exceptions such as for safety helmets.