L.A. county and city officials have criticized federal authorities for wearing masks during immigration operations. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion on July 29 to create an ordinance prohibiting any law enforcement officer or agent, including federal agents, from wearing a mask or face covering while interacting with the public during the course of duties.

The motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn, 4th District, was introduced in response to enforcement operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol agents targeting immigrants throughout the county.

“Law enforcement officers should never wear personal disguises or conceal their identities while interacting with the public in the course of their duties. But since the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids began in Los Angeles County on June 6, 2025, that is exactly what has been happening,” Hahn said. “Residents have witnessed countless incidents of men in plainclothes or wearing tactical gear, with their faces covered by masks or balaclavas and sunglasses, while they raid communities and detain residents. And they have refused to reveal their identities or even a badge when asked, leading to fear of impersonators. When law enforcement officers conceal their identities, they create confusion, incite fear and undermine public trust.”

The motion calls for county counsel to report back in 60 days with language for a draft ordinance, which will then be considered again by the board. Exemptions to the anti-mask ordinance would be the use of gas masks, fire and smoke protection masks and medical grade masks when necessary. It would also require all law enforcement officers, including federal agents operating within Los Angeles County, to wear visible identification and agency affiliation when interacting with the public.

Four supervisors voted yes on the ordinance, with Board Chair Kathryn Barger, 5th District, abstaining. During consideration prior to the vote, Barger expressed concerns that such an ordinance may not stand up in court, and raised questions about who would enforce the law. County legal representatives said violations would theoretically be prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, but the exact mechanics of who would enforce the law and how it would work are still to be determined.

“My understanding is that the U.S. Constitution Supremacy Clause does not allow the state or the county to regulate the actions of the federal government as it relates to this,” Barger said. “I want to make sure we do something that the impact is going to protect this vulnerable population. That’s why I’m bringing it up because I know that people have asked ‘who is going to enforce it?’ I just want to put on the table what I see as the pitfalls so the public doesn’t have any false impression about what we can and can’t do, which is why we will be doing a legal analysis and our report back, and we will hopefully research and address all these issues.”

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, 3rd District, supported Hahn’s motion and denounced the ICE raids.

“Thank you to supervisor Hahn for bringing forward this motion pushing to close the loophole on the wildly inappropriate actions of federal immigration enforcement officers as well as any other law enforcement officers who are choosing to conceal their identity here in Los Angeles County while doing their jobs,” Horvath said. “Our law enforcement officers at the local, state and federal levels must operate in commitment and in practice, in the open with their badges and insignia identifying who they are. They should not hide, they should not conceal and they certainly should not pretend to be something other than what they are. If the work they’re doing is in the best interest of the public, why do they feel the need to hide? We demand more from our law enforcement officers, and we demand more from all law enforcement agencies operating within Los Angeles County.”

Personnel with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles Police Department are not allowed to wear masks while on duty, per department policy, except during undercover operations and situations where masks are warranted for safety. Supervisor Holly Mitchell, 2nd District, said that standard should apply to federal officers as well and added that she also supports pending state legislation that would bar law enforcement officers to wear masks.

“There’s no other law enforcement entities that I know that wear masks,” Mitchell said. “I would suggest that other branches of law enforcement should challenge their brothers, and if unmasking and showing your badge is good enough for every other branch of law enforcement, I’m not sure why  ICE feels that they are different.”