"The measure was introduced after the Trump administration ordered immigration raids throughout the Los Angeles area earlier this year. Federal officers in army-green neck gaiters or other face coverings have jumped out of vans and cars to detain individuals across California this summer as part of President Trump's mass deportation program, prompting a wave of criticism from Democratic leaders. Representatives for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security defend the face coverings, arguing that identifying officers subjects to them to retaliation and violence."
"Leaders in Los Angeles County are exploring a similar measure to ban masks despite some legal experts' view that the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution dictates that federal law takes precedence over state law. The bill's backers argue that permitting officers to disguise themselves creates scenarios where impostors may stop and detain migrants, which undermines public trust and ultimately hinders legitimate law enforcement operations."
""The idea that in California we would have law enforcement officers running around with ski masks is terrifying," Wiener said in a brief interview. "It destroys confidence in law enforcement.""
California passed Senate Bill 627 to prohibit on-duty law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from masking their faces and to require officers to identify themselves. The law includes exceptions for SWAT teams, undercover officers, and medical coverings. The measure followed immigration raids and reports of federal officers using neck gaiters and other face coverings during detentions. Department of Homeland Security representatives defended the coverings citing risk of retaliation. If signed, the law would apply to local and federal officers but not to some state officers such as the California Highway Patrol. Supporters say disguises enable impostors and erode public trust.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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