SACRAMENTO, CA – A pair of bills aimed at ending the use of face coverings by law enforcement and requiring clearer identification passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee this week, as concern mounts over secretive and aggressive federal immigration enforcement operations in California communities.
Senate Bill 627, the No Secret Police Act, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), and Senate Bill 805, the No Vigilantes Act, authored by Senator Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena), both advanced with SB 627 passing 5-2 and SB 805 passing unanimously 6-0. The bills now move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
The legislation responds to a surge in masked federal raids under the Trump administration, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents accused of wearing ski masks, concealing badges, and detaining people without clearly identifying themselves. According to Wiener, such tactics mirror those of authoritarian states and erode trust in law enforcement…