The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit to block California’s new mask-ban laws, arguing that the state’s policies endanger immigration enforcement agents who face “unprecedented” harassment and doxing. The legal action claims that masking is essential for officer safety, as ICE agents have been stalked, threatened, and targeted at their homes.
Federal officials assert that California’s rules violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause by unfairly exempting state police while restricting federal personnel. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that “California’s anti-law enforcement policies discriminate against the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents.” The administration framed the laws as part of what it sees as a broader hostility toward federal immigration enforcement in California.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the nation’s first statewide ban on most law enforcement masking in September, according to the Associated Press. The law prohibits ski masks, gaiters, and other facial coverings during official business, except for undercover work or protective gear like N95 respirators. It does not apply to state police and requires federal agencies to establish a mask policy by July 1, 2026. A companion law mandates officers to wear visible identification showing their agency and badge number.
The lawsuit argues that masked enforcement remains essential because ICE officers have been followed, filmed, and targeted, citing an incident in Los Angeles where three women allegedly livestreamed an agent and posted his home address. Federal lawyers emphasized that anonymity protects officers from retaliation and violent targeting, asserting California is stripping away a critical layer of security. Newsom has called masked federal arrests “dystopian,” arguing that residents should know precisely who is exercising police authority in their neighborhoods.
Critics also warn about the expanding role of federal agents in local policing and object to teams that operate without visible identification. A Newsom spokesperson said federal agencies are “violating people’s rights” and undermining public safety. California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office stated it is reviewing the lawsuit, arguing that residents must be able to distinguish real officers from criminals posing as them, noting recent cases involving kidnappers impersonating immigration agents.
