CALIFORNIA PASSES 'UNMASK ICE' BILL; NEWSOM WEIGHS SIGNATURE AS COURT FIGHT LOOMS

California’s Legislature approved a first-in-the-nation bill to bar most officers, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces during public interactions. The measure, spurred by masked ICE raids, includes safety exceptions and now awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision. Supporters cite transparency and community trust; opponents warn of officer safety risks and argue the state cannot regulate federal agents. A companion bill would require visible identifiers, and legal challenges over federal preemption are likely if the law is signed.