Los Angeles County supervisors have voted to draft a rule prohibiting law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from concealing their identities with masks while conducting operations in unincorporated parts of the county.
The 4-0 vote, led by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis, directs county attorneys to write legislation barring the use of face coverings such as balaclavas and neck gaiters, though the county has acknowledged it has limited authority over federal personnel.
Videos taken during a series of immigration raids in June have shown federal agents, often in unmarked vehicles and wearing face coverings, apprehending individuals in public spaces without identifying themselves.
As Hahn told The Los Angeles Times:
"Being forcibly detained by a federal officer in the middle of the day is scary enough. Having it done by someone wearing a face mask or balaclava whose name and badge are completely covered up is even more disturbing."
The Department of Homeland Security, however, has pushed back against this initiative. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told the news outlet in a statement that agents in ICE and Enforcement and Removal Operations wear masks to protect their identities due to a rise in threats. The agency also took a jab at the Los Angeles sanctuary policies:
"These sanctuary politicians are trying to outlaw officers wearing masks to protect themselves from being doxed and targeted. These LA Country Supervisors have clearly never been on an ICE operation because they would see our officers verbally identify themselves, wear vests that say ICE/ERO or Homeland Security, and are flanked by vehicles that also say the name of the department"
Supervisor Kathryn Barger abstained from the vote, questioning the legality and practical impact of the proposed rule. "My concern is we're bringing in a motion that is probably going to end up in court that I question is even legal for us to do," she said, noting the motion might mislead residents into believing they are protected from federal actions.
Legal experts have echoed the skepticism. UC Davis law professor Kevin Johnson told the LA Times that the federal supremacy clause likely prevents local governments from imposing such restrictions on federal officers while County Counsel Dawyn Harrison confirmed that the rule would almost certainly face a constitutional challenge if enacted.
This local initiative aligns with broader state and federal legislative efforts. Earlier this month, New York Rep. Nydia Velazquez introduced the "No Masks for ICE Act" which seeks to mandate similar identification standards for federal agents and establish penalties for noncompliance. The bill would also require agents to display their names and agency affiliation on their clothes
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