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

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
    701·
    6 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
        181·
        6 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
      161·
      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.