Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to advance a proposed ordinance that would prohibit law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from wearing masks while on duty in unincorporated areas.
The measure passed 4-0, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger abstaining. A final vote is expected next week, and if approved, the ordinance would take effect in January 2026, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Under the proposal, all law enforcement personnel—including ICE, Homeland Security Investigations agents, and other federal officers—would be required to keep their faces visible and display identification while on duty.
Since summer, ICE teams have conducted enforcement actions across Southern California, targeting individuals residing in the country illegally. Agents have increasingly masked their identities to protect themselves from harassment, doxxing, and threats from activists opposed to immigration enforcement.
Legal experts have noted that federal immigration agents are not required to comply with county ordinances. Dawyn Harrison, the county’s chief legal officer, said she expects the federal government to challenge the measure in court, citing the Constitution’s supremacy clause, which gives federal law precedence over conflicting local laws.
“If this leads to a fight with the federal government in the courts, I think it’s a fight worth having,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn, who led the push for the ban.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized the need for agents to conceal their identities to prevent personal information from being exposed publicly.
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who co-authored the motion, said, “If you carry the power of a badge here, you must be visible, accountable, and identifiable to the people you serve.”
Following the vote, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli criticized the supervisors, warning that the ordinance could put federal personnel at risk and interfere with federal law enforcement.
“Let me be very clear: the county has no jurisdiction over federal agents, and we will not comply with any state or local laws restricting federal law enforcement,” Essayli said. “Our agents are under unprecedented assault in Los Angeles, largely due to reckless narratives and rhetoric advanced by the media and local politicians. We will not expose our brave men and women to personal attacks by allowing agitators to dox them and their families.”