Why Newsom Is Banning Immigration Enforcement from Wearing Masks
9/27/2025 | 2mVideo has Closed Captions
Masked raids spur bills to ban masks and require officer IDs.
Masked federal agents swept SoCal for deportations, spurring confusion and impersonation reports. Lawmakers advanced SB 627 to restrict masks and SB 805 to require names or badge numbers, though regulating federal officers is disputed. DOJ declined comment as Trump officials cited officer safety.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
SoCal Matters is a local public television program presented by PBS SoCal
Why Newsom Is Banning Immigration Enforcement from Wearing Masks
9/27/2025 | 2mVideo has Closed Captions
Masked federal agents swept SoCal for deportations, spurring confusion and impersonation reports. Lawmakers advanced SB 627 to restrict masks and SB 805 to require names or badge numbers, though regulating federal officers is disputed. DOJ declined comment as Trump officials cited officer safety.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch SoCal Matters
SoCal Matters is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipThere was a new fact of life for Southern California's this past summer, as thousands of hard to identify federal agents swept neighborhoods and workplaces to carry out President Trump's promised deportations.
Many residents may assume these masked agents are from ICE or an Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but that's not always the case.
Many of them belong to the Border Patrol, the agency that traditionally has policed the nation's border with Mexico.
But the Trump administration had deployed other agencies to Los Angeles, too, including the FBI and special tactical teams from the Department of Homeland Security.
Not widely seen until now.
National guard troops also accompany the immigration enforcement operations.
The use of mass agents without clearly identifying uniforms has confused the public, including local police receiving reports of kidnapings.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned in March that reports of ICE impersonations were growing.
In early September, Senate bills 627 and 805 made their way through the California legislature, and they attempt to help clarify who is conducting immigration raids.
Senate Bill 627, the No secret Police Act seeks to prohibit all local, state and federal officers from using masks, with some exceptions.
SB 805.
The No Vigilantes Act would require that officers clearly display their name or badge number.
It's disputed whether the state can regulate federal officers, and law enforcement agencies also lobbied against the proposals.
A spokesperson with the US Justice Department declined to comment on how it deployed agents for various agencies.
The Trump administration said that the masks are necessary to protect officers identities as they carry out operations.
For Calmatters, I'm Michael Lozano.
- News and Public Affairs
Top journalists deliver compelling original analysis of the hour's headlines.
- News and Public Affairs
FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world.
Support for PBS provided by:
SoCal Matters is a local public television program presented by PBS SoCal