Local and federal agents, including immigration officials, may not wear masks while conducting official business

California will be the first state to ban most law enforcement, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while conducting official business under a bill signed by the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, on Saturday.

The ban is California’s direct response to a recent series of immigration raids in Los Angeles where federal agents wore masks while making mass arrests. The raids prompted protests and led Donald Trump to deploy national guard troops and marines to the city.

It’s unclear how – or whether – the state can enforce the ban on the federal agents who have been carrying out those raids. A homeland security official called the legislation “despicable” in a statement this week, adding that the ban would only put officers in danger.

  • etchinghillside@reddthat.com
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    70
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    5 days ago

    It makes exceptions for undercover agents, medical masks such as N95 respirators or tactical gear. It doesn’t apply to state police.

      • Capricorn_Geriatric@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        18
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        5 days ago

        Well, it’s hard to strike the right balance.

        Obviously an undercover officer posing as a car painter in a longitudinal sting can’t really say “I’m not allowed to wear that mask”.

        Although, he could pretend he was MAGA and an anti-masker.

        In any case, some reasonable exceptions are warranted. Tactical gear isn’t one of them.

        And we all know what “reasonable” means to MAGA.

    • DominusOfMegadeus@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      16
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      5 days ago

      The new law prohibits neck gators, ski masks and other facial coverings for local and federal officers, including immigration enforcement agents, while they conduct official business.

      So unless they have tactical gas masks on, I would say this is definitely good progress.

  • lemmylump@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    9
    ·
    4 days ago

    To think 5 years ago you couldn’t get these fucks to put a mask on., now they’re “in danger”.

    Stop breaking the law asshole.gif

  • ProfThadBach@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    14
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    5 days ago

    How is this going to be enforced? If the cops are not standing there arresting face covered ICE agents then this means nothingh.

    • p3n@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      13
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      4 days ago

      If it is well known that it is illegal for law enforcement officers to wear masks, and there is an armed man wearing a mask who is threatening a group of people, it would be reasonable to assume they are not a law enforcement officer and a shooting could be justified in self-defense.

      Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer.

    • lemmylump@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      4 days ago

      The way I see it is if some fuck is wearing a mask and trying to arrest me, that’s not a cop, that’s a kidnapper and I’m not sticking around or I’m fighting back with lethal force.

      Cops don’t wear masks criminals do.

  • SabinStargem@lemmy.today
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    4 days ago

    Homeland Security officials can stick their “despicable” into their bum hole. They are evil jackasses, and have no right to oppose people wanting due process from their nation.

  • JackFrostNCola@aussie.zone
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    11
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    5 days ago

    Would put officers in danger not having masks on?
    I would think that if the general public wants to stop or dissuade them from executing these orders that perhaps its the laws that are wrong? If society at large disagrees with the current law of the land, then who is these law benefiting or protecting? The fragile & scared.

  • RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    4 days ago

    I think California police should just take a flight over the HLS Chief’s home, put him in cuffs, and press charges. It would be no less illegal than what he’s allowed to happen, and possibly that fucking Despicable statement.