NEW: Decide Smacks Down California’s Controversial Anti-ICE Regulation
A federal judge in Los Angeles has issued a preliminary injunction against a California law that sought to prohibit federal immigration agents from wearing masks during enforcement operations.
U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, ruled Monday that the “No Secret Police Act” (Senate Bill 627) violates the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause by discriminating against federal officers.
The law, which was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom this past September, banned most law enforcement officers from covering their faces while on duty, with the stated aim of preventing “secret police” tactics and promoting accountability. It initially exempted state and local officers and applied primarily to federal agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The Trump administration filed a lawsuit in November 2025, arguing that the mask ban interfered with federal operations and endangered agents by exposing them to doxing and harassment.
In her 30-page decision, Judge Snyder agreed that the exemption for state officers created unequal treatment, stating that the law “unlawfully discriminates against federal officers” and does not apply equally to all law enforcement in the state. She noted that federal agents could perform their duties without masks but emphasized the discriminatory aspect as the key issue.
The ruling allows California to potentially revise the law to include state officers, which could make it constitutional. State Senator Scott Wiener, the bill’s author, indicated plans to amend it accordingly.
Federal immigration agents in Minneapolis following the shooting of Rene Good on January 7, 2026
Photo: Chad Davis
Snyder upheld a companion law, the “No Vigilantes Act,” which requires federal agents to display clear identification, such as agency badges and numbers, during operations. This measure was designed to prevent federal agents from utilizing unmarked vehicles during immigration enforcement operations.
The judge’s decision in the masked agents case was welcomed by Trump Administration officials, a number of whom have pointed to the massive uptick in attacks on federal agents since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last January. “Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe, and they do not deserve to be doxed or harassed simply for carrying out their duties. California’s anti-law enforcement policies discriminate against the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents,” said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
DHS data indicates that from January 21, 2025, to January 24, 2026, ICE officers faced 68 vehicular attacks, a 3,300% increase from the two incidents in the same period the previous year. CBP reported 114 such attacks, up 124% from 51.
Overall assaults on ICE officers rose 1,347% (275 incidents versus 19), with an 8,000% increase in death threats.