DHS Defies California Mask Ban on ICE Agents Amid Constitutional Wrangling

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the "No Secret Police Act," which bans local and federal law enforcement agents, including ICE, from wearing face coverings like ski masks or neck gaiters during official duties, aiming to increase accountability and transparency. The Trump administration, through DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, has declared it will not comply with the law, calling it unconstitutional and accusing Newsom of inciting division and endangering law enforcement amid what DHS claims is a significant rise in assaults on agents. The DHS cites a purported 1,000% increase in attacks and threats against ICE personnel and their families, though journalists have questioned the validity of these figures due to a lack of disclosed data. The law, effective January 2026, responds to increased immigration enforcement in California, including recent ICE crackdowns, but the federal government insists on continuing the practice of masked operations for agent protection. This ongoing conflict highlights the tension between California's sanctuary policies and the federal immigration enforcement approach under President Trump.