Trump Administration Sues California to Keep Law Enforcement Masked
Sacramento, CA – Today, the Trump Administration filed a lawsuit against the State of California over SB 627 (Arreguín, D-Oakland), which goes into effect January 1, 2026, and will require most law enforcement to show visible ID, wear name or badge numbers, and prohibit face coverings except in narrowly defined situations. In a recently surfaced bulletin, the FBI warned that criminals are posing as agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and urged actual ICE agents to clearly identify themselves. Co-author of SB 627, State Senator Jesse Arreguín, made the following statement in response:
“It’s deeply concerning that the Trump Administration is suing California for requiring precisely what the FBI is urging,” said Senator Jesse Arreguín. “This law protects both the public and legitimate officers: When armed operatives walk into our communities obscuring their face, badge, and name, the public’s trust is broken–and that poses a risk to everyone. That risk is significantly heightened when there are known impersonators exploiting ICE's propensity to withhold their identity.”
The FBI bulletin noted that masked criminals masquerading as ICE agents have carried out robberies, kidnappings and assaults — and that the line between real officers and imposters has been dangerously blurred. The guidance urges agents to clearly identify themselves and to cooperate with verification requests.
Key features of SB 627:
- Prohibits an officer of any local, state or federal law-enforcement agency from covering their face during operations unless narrowly exempted (SWAT, medical masks, wildfire smoke gear).
- Mandates visible identifiers such as name or badge number on the uniform.
- Applies to any person acting on behalf of a law-enforcement agency, closing a gap that allows impersonators to exploit anonymity.
- Designed to rebuild trust in public-safety institutions and protect communities from mis-identification, abuse or impersonation.
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