LAPD Chief: We Will Not Enforce California Mask Ban for ICE Agents

Police Chief Jim McDonnell made clear that the Los Angeles Police Department will not enforce California’s mask ban for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

The ban, titled the “No Secret Police Act,” went into effect at the beginning of 2026.

ABC 7 quoted McDonnell saying, “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.”

Los Angeles Magazine noted that McDonnell made clear that while not enforcing the mask ban, the LAPD will continue its practice of not cooperating with ICE on immigration enforcement:

We’ve been solid on that since 1979. That’s been our policy. That’s worked for us. We cannot afford to alienate