LAPD Chief Refuses to Enforce California's Face Covering Ban on ICE Agents

LAPD Chief cites public safety concerns in defying Newsom's law prohibiting federal agents from wearing masks during operations.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 5:47pm

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The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) will not enforce a California law that prohibits federal immigration agents from wearing masks during enforcement operations, according to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. McDonnell warned that trying to enforce the misdemeanor violation could endanger officers and escalate volatile situations.

Why it matters

This decision by the LAPD chief highlights the ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement. Governor Newsom signed the law in 2025 to prohibit masked federal agents, but the LAPD chief argues it would be unsafe and counterproductive to try to enforce it against other armed law enforcement agencies.

The details

LAPD Chief McDonnell stated that enforcing Newsom's law "doesn't make any sense" and could lead to conflict between armed agencies over a minor infraction. He said the LAPD's role is to de-escalate situations, not "ramp it up" by trying to enforce the mask ban against federal immigration agents who are "doing their job."

  • The law in question was signed by Newsom in September 2025.
  • The legislation followed a series of immigration raids across Los Angeles in 2025, during which federal agents were seen wearing face coverings.

The players

Jim McDonnell

The chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Gavin Newsom

The governor of California who signed the law prohibiting federal immigration agents from wearing masks during operations.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose administration acknowledged that the wearing of face coverings by federal agents is undesirable, but is done to protect agents' families against harassment, doxxing, and threats from far-left immigration activists.

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What they’re saying

“From a practical standpoint, our role when we get to a scene is to de-escalate the situation, not to ramp it up. Trying to enforce a misdemeanor violation on another law enforcement agency, that's not going to end well. And that's not going to be good.”

— Jim McDonnell, LAPD Chief (Good Day LA)

“The reality of one armed agency approaching another armed agency to create conflict over something that would be a misdemeanor at best or an infraction. It doesn't make any sense”

— Jim McDonnell, LAPD Chief (Press conference)

What’s next

The LAPD's decision not to enforce the mask ban on federal immigration agents is likely to continue the ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement in California.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges of enforcing state laws that conflict with federal immigration policies, as well as the need to balance public safety concerns with political agendas when it comes to policing sensitive situations involving multiple armed law enforcement agencies.