California lawmakers propose ban on police face coverings to boost transparency

UPDATED: Jun 17, 2025 05:11 IST

California lawmakers on Monday unveiled a new bill that would make it a misdemeanor for local, state, and federal law enforcement officers to conceal their faces while carrying out official duties, a move they say is aimed at boosting transparency, curbing abuses, and preventing impersonation.

The proposal—backed by State Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco and State Sen. Jesse Arreguin of Berkeley and Oakland — would require law enforcement officers to show their faces and wear uniforms that include visible name tags or other identifiers. It would not apply to Guard troops, military personnel, SWAT units, or officers responding to natural disasters

“We are seeing more and more law enforcement officers, particularly at the federal level, covering their faces entirely, not identifying themselves at all and, at times, even wearing army fatigues where we can’t tell if these are law enforcement officers or a vigilante militia,” Sen. Wiener said during the announcement. “They are grabbing people off our streets and disappearing people, and it’s terrifying,” he added.

The legislation comes after public outrage over recent federal immigration raids in California cities—including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Concord, Downey, and Montebello — where officers were seen wearing masks and refusing to show badges or names. In Los Angeles, a series of immigration raids June 6 by federal officers, some with face coverings, triggered days of turbulent protests across the city and beyond and led President Donald Trump to deploy Guard troops and Marines to the LA area. More than 100 people were detained during those raids and immigrant advocates say they have not been able to contact them.

“Law enforcement officers are public servants and people should be able to see their faces, see who they are, know who they are. Otherwise, there is no transparency and no accountability,” Wiener said.

Ed Obayashi, a special prosecutor in California and an expert on national and state police practices, said the proposed legislation is “an exercise in futility” because federal officers can’t be prosecuted by state courts for activities performed during their official duties.

“If they are following federal directives, they are following federal law,” Obayashi said.

He said that when it comes to local and state officers, they are already required by law to have identifiable information and department insignia on their uniforms.

(With inputs from Associated Press)