The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to advance an ordinance that would prohibit federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks while conducting operations in the county.
The board, controlled by Democrats, voted 4–0 in favor of the measure, with the lone Republican member abstaining.
A second vote is scheduled for December 9. If approved, the requirement would take effect 30 days later and mandate that officers display visible identification and agency affiliation.
The proposal immediately prompted pushback from federal officials.
Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, issued a statement rejecting the county’s authority to impose requirements on federal personnel.
“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 in a post on social media.
Essayli said federal officers in Los Angeles have faced increased threats.
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“Our agents are under unprecedented assault in Los Angeles, largely due to reckless narratives and rhetoric advanced by the media and local politicians,” he said.
“We will not expose our brave men and women to personal attacks by allowing agitators to dox them and their families through facial recognition tools.”
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.
Our agents are under unprecedented assault in Los Angeles, largely due to reckless narratives and rhetoric advanced… https://t.co/BCaHUkVNP7
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) December 3, 2025
Supporters of the ordinance, including Supervisor Janice Hahn, argued that the measure is necessary to ensure transparency in local communities.
Hahn criticized ICE in particular, saying its operations have generated significant concern among residents.
“This is how authoritarian secret police behaves — not legitimate law enforcement in a democracy,” Hahn said after the vote.
“ICE agents are violating our residents’ rights every day they are on our streets. These agents hide their faces. They refuse to wear badges. They pull people into unmarked vans at gunpoint and wonder why people resist arrest. We are declaring in no uncertain terms that in L.A. County, police do not hide their faces. That is our expectation, and this ordinance will now make it our law.”
Federal officials did not indicate whether operational procedures would be adjusted in response to the county’s action.
The Justice Department has maintained that state and local governments do not have the authority to set conditions for federal law enforcement activity.
The upcoming second vote on December 9 will determine whether the ordinance becomes law.
Hahn said the board expects the Trump administration to challenge the measure in court if it passes and stated that the county is prepared for litigation.
As of Tuesday, no additional comments from federal agencies had been released regarding potential legal steps or changes to enforcement operations in the region.
