Federal Judge Blocks California’s Ban On Masked ICE Agents
The Trump administration secured a significant courtroom victory Monday after a federal judge halted enforcement of California’s controversial “No Secret Police Act,” a Democrat-backed measure designed to prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from wearing masks during enforcement operations.
U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder — an appointee of former President Bill Clinton — issued a preliminary injunction blocking the law, ruling that it unlawfully singles out federal officers while exempting state and local law enforcement. The decision represents a rebuke to Sacramento’s ongoing attempts to interfere with federal immigration enforcement under President Donald J. Trump’s second term.
Importantly, the ruling was grounded in constitutional principles, not political preference.
“The Court finds that federal officers can perform their federal functions without wearing masks. However, because the No Secret Police Act, as presently enacted, does not apply equally to all law enforcement officers in the state, it unlawfully discriminates against federal officers,” Snyder wrote.
Judge Snyder also invoked the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, reaffirming the long-standing principle that federal law overrides conflicting state statutes — a foundational doctrine that prevents states from obstructing lawful federal operations.
Bondi: Federal Agents Are Under Attack
Attorney General Pamela Bondi applauded the ruling in a post on X, emphasizing the increasingly hostile climate facing federal law enforcement officers carrying out immigration enforcement duties.
“ANOTHER key court victory thanks to our outstanding @TheJusticeDept attorneys,” Bondi said.
“Following our arguments, a district court in California BLOCKED the enforcement of a law that would have banned federal agents from wearing masks to protect their identities.”
“These federal agents are harassed, doxxed, obstructed, and attacked on a regular basis just for doing their jobs. We have no tolerance for it.”
The injunction blocks enforcement of the mask ban but leaves intact California’s separate “No Vigilantes Act,” which requires officers to display agency affiliation and a personal identifier, such as a badge number.
Newsom Claims “Win” Despite Partial Defeat
California Governor Gavin Newsom attempted to frame the mixed ruling as a victory, highlighting the portion of the law that survived judicial scrutiny.
“A federal court upheld California’s law requiring federal agents to identify themselves – a clear win for the rule of law. No badge and no name mean no accountability,” Newsom said. “California will keep standing up for civil rights and our democracy.”
Last September, Newsom signed the Democrat-sponsored measures into law in response to stepped-up federal immigration enforcement operations across California. State officials argued the measures were legitimate safety regulations, comparing them to speed limits and other traffic laws.
“Each of the challenged provisions is a legitimate exercise of California’s police powers that ‘at most, only incidentally affects‘ federal immigration and law enforcement,” the court documents said.
California further argued that the act does not “control, impede, or grant ‘virtual power of review’ over federal law enforcement activities, and therefore it does not amount to an unconstitutional direct regulation.”
Despite the January 1, 2026 effective date, the state has already paused enforcement against federal agencies pending further court review of the administration’s challenge.
Trump Administration Signals Continued Legal Fight
Bondi made clear that the administration will not back down from defending federal officers who are increasingly targeted amid heated immigration debates.
“We will continue fighting and winning in court for President Trump’s law-and-order agenda — and we will ALWAYS have the backs of our great federal law enforcement officers,” Bondi said.
Meanwhile, federal immigration authorities have begun cracking down on individuals accused of interfering with enforcement operations.
In Minneapolis, authorities recently detained 42-year-old Becky Ringstrom, a mother of seven, after she allegedly followed federal immigration officers in her gray Kia SUV through a suburban neighborhood on January 29.
According to bystander video verified by Reuters, Ringstrom was boxed in by unmarked vehicles before at least six masked agents surrounded her car, with one officer striking her windshield with a metal object before she was taken into custody.
Federal officials have characterized such incidents as interference with lawful operations, underscoring the heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement as President Trump continues to prioritize border security and the restoration of federal authority.