Frank Rondel
A federal judge in California on Monday blocked the state from enforcing a recently passed law that restricts when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents can wear masks during deportation operations, reports customreceipt.com, via original press release Politico. U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder ruled that the “No Secret Police Act” may violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause because it singles out federal agents while exempting state law enforcement officers from the same restrictions.
In her 30-page decision, Snyder rejected the federal government’s argument that ICE agents require masks to prevent doxing, writing that the law discriminates against federal officials. “The Act treats federal law enforcement officers differently than similarly situated state law enforcement officers,” the judge noted.
However, Snyder denied the Trump administration’s request to block a separate California measure aimed at transparency in policing. The “No Vigilantes Act” mandates that most local, state, and federal law enforcement officers display their name or badge number while on duty. Snyder indicated this law is likely constitutional because it applies equally to state and local authorities. She further suggested that the mask ban could withstand legal scrutiny if it were expanded to include state law enforcement officers.
Democratic state Senator Scott Wiener, the author of the mask ban, said he would propose legislation to include state-level officers following the ruling. The original law exempted state police from the restrictions while applying them to federal and local agencies amid opposition from law enforcement groups.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office had agreed to suspend enforcement of both laws while Snyder reviewed the federal government’s motion. The judge stayed her ruling until February 19, 2026, delaying the implementation of the ID display requirement. The law could remain on hold if the Trump administration secures an additional stay from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
“Safe communities thrive on transparency and trust, and California is committed to doing our part to uphold public safety and civil liberties,” Bonta said in a statement, without detailing the state’s next steps. The Justice Department has not provided an immediate response regarding the ruling.
The use of masks by ICE officers during immigration enforcement has drawn strong criticism from city and state leaders, who argue it undermines accountability and fosters fear. Federal officials maintain masks are intended to protect agents from harassment, doxing, and retaliatory attacks, which have increased significantly over the past year. Snyder, however, dismissed these arguments, noting that mask usage is left to individual officers’ discretion rather than being enforced agency-wide, and could actually “heighten the sense of insecurity for all.”
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