The Los Angeles Police Department has chosen not to implement a California order that restricts federal immigration agents from concealing their faces with masks during operations within the state.
Police Chief Jim McDonnell shared with Fox Los Angeles’ “Good Day LA” that the LAPD will not adhere to Governor Newsom’s directive.
He explained that it could be dangerous for officers to issue citations to federal authorities over what is essentially a misdemeanor, from a tactical viewpoint.
Chief Jim McDonnell of the LAPD, alongside a masked ICE agent, addressed the media on Friday, clarifying that the department will not enforce the state law barring federal agents from wearing masks during their duties. (Getty Images)
“Practically speaking, our goal at a scene is to de-escalate rather than escalate,” McDonnell stated. “Attempting to enforce a misdemeanor against another law enforcement entity is risky and unwise.”
“Considering public safety, the environment could already be tense, with people eager to voice their concerns,” he continued. “The ICE agents are fulfilling their responsibilities, and for us to intervene over a mask-related violation isn’t a secure approach.”
In September 2025, Newsom signed a bill into law banning law enforcement from wearing face coverings while conducting official business across the state.
The bill makes it a misdemeanor crime for local, state or federal law enforcement to wear masks or personal disguises during their duties, unless an officer is undercover or performing a tactical operation that requires protective gear.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom looks on during a bill signing event related to redrawing the state’s congressional maps on August 21, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“What are you afraid of?” Newsom said as he signed the legislation into law.
Critics of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration have cited masked ICE agents as a public safety risk, accusing them of trying to shield their identities from being leaked.
Authorities said ICE agents have masked up to avoid doxxing and threats to them and their families from the public.
The ban came after a series of immigration raids in and around Los Angeles, where federal agents were spotted wearing masks. At the time, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said federal agents are already required to identify themselves and wear clothing that designates they are with ICE or Homeland Security markers during operations.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer with other officials. (Getty Images)
Fox News Digital has reached out to Newsom’s office and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
Bass criticized ICE’s mask policy following raids in Los Angeles last summer.
“When the raids started, fear spread,” Bass said in an interview last year with ABC News. “The masked men in unmarked cars, no license plate, no real uniforms, jumping out of cars with rifles and snatching people off the street, leading a lot of people to think maybe kidnappings were taking place.”
