Federal Judge Rules California Can’t Stop ICE Agents From Wearing Masks

A federal judge has struck down California’s attempt to ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from wearing masks while conducting arrests, delivering a legal win for President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.

U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder ruled Monday that California’s “No Secret Police Act” cannot be enforced, citing the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. The law, signed by Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom in September, targeted only federal officers—specifically ICE—and required them to show their faces during enforcement actions. Judge Snyder found that the law discriminated against federal authorities and unlawfully obstructed their operations.

The Department of Homeland Security had condemned the legislation from the beginning, calling it “a flagrant attempt to endanger” federal law enforcement. Data from DHS show ICE agents are now experiencing a more than 1,000% rise in physical assaults, with an even more alarming 8,000% surge in death threats. Doxxing incidents have also skyrocketed, driven by activist groups who publish agent names, photos, and license plates online.

In cities like Minneapolis, so-called “ICE Watch” groups routinely trail federal officers, photographing them and broadcasting their movements to hinder enforcement. The situation has become particularly volatile in Los Angeles, where recent ICE operations prompted violent protests, freeway blockades, and attacks on agents with concrete blocks and firebombs.

Following the chaos, President Trump deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to restore order, a move that Democrats harshly criticized. Despite the resistance, federal agents continued to carry out arrests under increased threat, many relying on face coverings to protect their identities and families from retaliation.

In her ruling, Judge Snyder acknowledged the Trump administration’s arguments but offered some criticism, suggesting that federal officers “can perform their federal functions without wearing masks.” Still, she concluded the state law was unconstitutional because it targeted federal officers without applying to all levels of law enforcement.

That technicality opened the door for Democrat State Senator Scott Wiener to quickly announce new legislation that would expand the mask ban to include state officers, such as the California Highway Patrol. Wiener claimed the ruling was a “huge win,” arguing it simply clarified the need for a broader application of the law.

But federal officials view the court’s decision as a major step in preserving officer safety during a time of surging anti-ICE hostility. Attorney Bill Essayli, representing the United States, said, “California does not and cannot have jurisdiction over federal agents. This ruling confirms that.”

The ruling is expected to be appealed, but for now, ICE agents remain legally protected in their use of face coverings during operations in California.