June 20,2025 — San Francisco — In response to heightened tensions surrounding recent immigration raids, California State Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Jesse Arreguín (D-Berkeley) introduced Senate Bill 627, dubbed the “No Secret Police Act,” on June 16, 2025.
The legislation aims to prohibit local, state, and federal law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings during public-facing operations in California, requiring them to display clear identification such as names or badge numbers on their uniforms.
The bill, prompted by images of masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting raids in Los Angeles and other cities, seeks to enhance transparency and public trust in law enforcement.
The proposed law comes amid widespread protests sparked by ICE operations that began on June 6, 2025, in Los Angeles, where masked federal agents were filmed detaining individuals, often in unmarked vehicles.
These actions have drawn comparisons to authoritarian tactics, with Wiener stating, “We’re really at risk of having secret police in this country.
They are grabbing people off our streets and disappearing people, and it’s terrifying.”
Arreguín emphasized the need for accountability, saying, “The recent federal operations in California have created an environment of profound terror.
If we want the public to trust law enforcement, we cannot allow them to behave like secret police in an authoritarian state.”
SB 627 would make it a misdemeanor for law enforcement officers to conceal their faces while performing official duties, with exemptions for SWAT teams, medical-grade masks during natural disasters like wildfires, and transparent riot gear.
The bill also reinforces existing California Penal Code 830.10, which requires uniformed officers to display identifiable markers, by providing a clearer definition of covered personnel.
ICE Bill Aims To Authenticate Police
The legislation has ignited a heated debate.
Supporters argue it will prevent impersonation of officers and restore community trust, particularly after incidents like the politically motivated killing of a Minnesota state lawmaker by a suspect posing as a police officer.
Wiener noted, “It is critically important that people know who they’re interacting with and that they’re interacting with actual law enforcement officers.”
Opponents, including federal officials and some Republican lawmakers, defend the use of masks to protect officers from doxxing and physical threats.
ICE’s acting director, Todd Lyons, stated, “I’m not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line because people don’t like what immigration enforcement is.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem added, “It’s for the safety of those individuals or the work that they’re doing as far as protecting their identity so they can continue to do investigative work.”
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) criticized the bill, warning on X that it would endanger ICE agents, citing a 413% increase in targeted attacks.
The controversy intensified following President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles against the wishes of Governor Gavin Newsom, escalating tensions after protests turned violent.
Newsom condemned the move as a “brazen abuse of power,” warning that it places democracy “under assault.”
California Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R) called the bill an attempt to “legislatively dox” officers, arguing it endangers those protecting communities.
Legal experts question the bill’s enforceability against federal agents.
Ed Obayashi, a California special prosecutor, noted, “If they are following federal directives, they are following federal law,” suggesting state courts may lack jurisdiction to prosecute federal officers.
Still, the bill is likely to pass in California’s Democratic-controlled legislature, reflecting the state’s ongoing resistance to federal immigration policies.
The “No Secret Police Act” also aligns with a related federal proposal by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), which would prohibit immigration officers from wearing “police” markings to avoid confusion with local law enforcement.
As protests continue in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, the bill underscores California’s push for transparency amid fears of unchecked federal authority.
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