California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation that prohibits law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks or other face coverings while carrying out official duties in public, making California the first state in the nation to enact such a restriction.
The new statute, Senate Bill 627 or the “No Secret Police Act,” requires officers to be clearly identifiable, a measure Newsom said is necessary to enforce transparency and accountability, particularly regarding federal immigration operations.
The law will take effect in January 2026. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has declared its refusal to comply with the state mandate…