On Tuesday, December 2nd, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4:0 to pass a proposal to prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing masks while conducting immigration enforcement in unincorporated areas of the county.
Initiated by supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey Horvath, the proposal garnered support from all four female members of the board, with Republican supervisor Kathryn Barger abstaining. The measure will undergo a second vote on the 9th and if approved again, will take effect 30 days later.
The proposal bans all federal, state, and local law enforcement officers from wearing masks or engaging in personal disguises during enforcement activities and public interactions in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Officers must wear visible identification and agency logos. The law also specifies exceptions such as authorized undercover operations, identity protection during litigation, SWAT actions, medical masks, respirators, and riot helmets.
The legislation aims to promote transparency, safety, and trust between law enforcement officers and community members. The rationale behind the proposal is that encountering masked officers may instill fear or intimidation in the public, exacerbating defensive behaviors and needlessly escalating tensions during interactions between law enforcement and the public.
In situations of high pressure and emotional intensity, the inability to interpret officers’ facial expressions may lead to misjudgments by civilians. Additionally, the risk of impersonating officers increases, leaving the public with no reliable means to distinguish between genuine and fake officers, potentially resulting in refusal to comply with lawful commands and escalating conflict risks.
Not only does the risk of attacks on law enforcement officers increase, but civilians obeying imposters also face risks of abduction, robbery, rape, and other crimes. The proposal cites examples of individuals pretending to be law enforcement officers in Fresno County harassing businesses and multiple cases of impersonating officers in Orange County committing thefts.
Supervisor Hahn emphasized that immigration agents covering their faces, refusing to wear badges, pointing guns at people, and dragging them into unmarked vehicles raises questions about why people should fear them when hiding their faces. She stated, “We are here to declare solemnly: in Los Angeles, police officers are not allowed to cover their faces. This is our expectation.”
The Los Angeles County ordinance applies to local state law enforcement departments, and the current vote attempts to regulate federal law enforcement agencies as well. If federal immigration agents refuse to comply, will the local police intervene?
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) informed ABC7 “Eyewitness News” that current federal law does not permit local officers to enforce the proposed ordinance against federal agents, stating, “If the court rules differently, we will adjust accordingly.”
The federal government swiftly responded to the passage of this measure by Los Angeles County.
In response, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told The Washington Post that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials wearing masks aim to protect their safety, prevent personal information disclosure, and shield against violence — occurrences that are increasingly common.
McLaughlin mentioned that attacks against federal immigration enforcement officers have risen by 1,150%, with death threats surging by 8,000%. While sanctuary politicians in Los Angeles make it easier for violent extremists to target brave law enforcement officers.
She also warned that gangs like the Aragua Train and MS-13 have started targeting the families of immigration agents, and the county is attempting to “violate the highest clauses of the constitution.”
From June 6th to August 26th this year, immigration authorities detained at least five thousand undocumented immigrants in enforcement operations in Los Angeles County.
In September, Governor Newsom signed two bills to prevent immigration enforcement officers from wearing masks. In response, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit in the Central District of California federal court in November.
The Department of Homeland Security previously stated that officers wearing masks aim to avoid becoming targets of drug trafficking organizations, criminal groups, terrorists, and online exposure. All ICE enforcement officers carry badges and credentials and provide identification as required by law.
U.S. Attorney General Bondi explicitly stated that any such ban on facial coverings is unconstitutional; California’s anti-law enforcement policies discriminate against the federal government and endanger law enforcement officers, stating that “these laws cannot stand.”