Federal Government Will 'Not Abide' By CA's Law Banning ICE From Wearing Masks

Days after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law banning local and federal agents from covering their faces on duty, U.S. Homeland Security has fired back, calling the move "unconstitutional" on Monday.

The federal government announced that it will not abide by the newly signed law.

The ban, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, was signed into law along with a suite of other bills to protect families from what Newsom called President Donald Trump's "secret police."

“Governor Gavin Newsom is fanning the flames of division, hatred and dehumanization of our law enforcement," Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement on Monday. "To be crystal clear: we will not abide by Newsom’s unconstitutional ban.”

Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) immediately fired back on Monday.

"You can tell yourself that, but it’s the law. Just tell your thugs to take off their ski masks," he wrote on X.

The federal government claims California's law comes at a time when immigration law enforcement is facing a 1,000 percent increase in assaults. McLaughlin says officers and their family members have been doxxed and targeted.

The "unconstitutional legislation," McLaughlin continues, strips law enforcement of protections in "a disgusting, diabolical fundraising and PR stunt."

Along with its Monday statement about the new law, Homeland Security released the names and photos of 12 undocumented immigrants arrested recently on suspicion of dozens of crimes.

Before the official refusal came from the federal government, former Inland Empire assemblyman Bill Assayli, who was appointed by Trump as U.S. Attorney in April, said Friday that federal agencies will not follow California's law.

"The State of California has no jurisdiction over the federal government. If Newsom wants to regulate our agents, he must go through Congress," Essayli wrote on X. "I’ve directed our federal agencies that the law signed today has no effect on our operations. Our agents will continue to protect their identities."

The new laws follow a chaotic wave of federal immigration raids in Los Angeles, where unmarked vans and masked agents descended on Home Depot parking lots, car washes and factories to arrest immigrants. Trump’s aggressive crackdown also sparked violent clashes with protesters over the summer, particularly after he deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines in June.

Four other laws signed by Newsom on Friday attempt to protect immigrants residing in California by shielding health care information, requiring officers to identify themselves and notifying families of ICE agents at schools.

"You're going to go out and you're going to do enforcement, provide an ID," Newsom told reporters on Friday. "Tell us which agency you represent. Provide us basic information that all local law enforcement is required to provide."

READ MORE: Why Is ICE Having A Hard Time Poaching CA Police Officers? Report