LAPD won’t enforce California’s ICE mask ban, chief says

The Brief

  • LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell confirmed the department will not enforce California’s mask ban for federal agents, citing a legal stay and tactical safety concerns.
  • Los Angeles homicides fell to 230 in 2025—the lowest number since 1966—representing a nearly 20% drop and a historic decline in violent crime.
  • A federal judge has barred the LAPD from using 40mm less-lethal foam projectiles for crowd control, though the tool remains available for specific tactical calls.

LOS ANGELES In a wide-ranging interview following the release of historic crime data, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell joined Good Day LA on Friday to address the city’s approach to immigration enforcement and a significant new legal restriction on police tools.

While celebrating the lowest homicide rates in six decades, Chief McDonnell maintained a firm line on the department’s independence from federal immigration operations.

LAPD 2025 Citywide Crime Data Analysis Report

What we know:

According to the LAPD’s 2025 citywide crime data analysis report, homicides in Los Angeles plummeted to 230 in 2025, marking the city’s lowest per capita murder rate since the 1950s.

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