West
LAPD chief defies Newsom’s mask ban for federal immigration agents citing safety concerns
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Los Angeles Police Department won’t enforce a California directive banning federal immigration agents from wearing masks or hiding their faces while conducting operations in the state.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell told Fox Los Angeles’ “Good Day LA” that his department will not enforce the directive from California Gov. Newsom.
From a tactical perspective, having officers cite federal authorities for what amounts to a misdemeanor could be unsafe, he said.
SWALWELL PROMISES IF ELECTED GOVERNOR, FORMER ICE AGENTS WOULD BE ‘UN-HIRABLE’ IN CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell and a masked ICE agent. On Friday, McDonnell said the LAPD won’t enforce a statewide law that prohibits federal agents from wearing masks while conducting official business. (Getty Images)
“From a practical standpoint, our role when we get to a scene is to de-escalate the situation, not to ramp it up,” McDonnell said. “Trying to enforce a misdemeanor violation on another law enforcement agency, that’s not going to end well. And that’s not going to be good.”
“From a public safety standpoint for anybody in that environment. Potentially you have a crowd that could be agitated and trying to get their point across,” he added. “And then you have the ICE agents who are doing their job. And for us to come in then and try and create an enforcement action for wearing a mask, it’s not a safe way to do business.”
In September 2025, Newsom signed a bill into law banning law enforcement from wearing face coverings while conducting official business across the state.
The bill makes it a misdemeanor crime for local, state or federal law enforcement to wear masks or personal disguises during their duties, unless an officer is undercover or performing a tactical operation that requires protective gear.
BLOCKING ICE COOPERATION FUELED MINNESOTA UNREST, OFFICIALS WARN AS VIRGINIA REVERSES COURSE
California Gov. Gavin Newsom looks on during a bill signing event related to redrawing the state’s congressional maps on Aug. 21, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“What are you afraid of?” Newsom said as he signed the legislation into law.
The Trump administration has sued over the law.
“The federal government has sued to stop the state from enforcing this law,” a spokesperson for Newsom’s office told Fox News Digital. “We are defending the law in court which would go in effect on July 1.”
Critics of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration have cited masked ICE agents as a public safety risk, accusing them of trying to shield their identities from being leaked.
Authorities said ICE agents have masked up to avoid doxxing and threats to them and their families from the public.
The ban came after a series of immigration raids in and around Los Angeles, where federal agents were spotted wearing masks. At the time, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said federal agents are already required to identify themselves and wear clothing that designates they are with ICE or Homeland Security markers during operations.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer with other officials. (Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital has reached out to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
Bass criticized ICE’s mask policy following raids in Los Angeles last summer.
“When the raids started, fear spread,” Bass said in an interview last year with ABC News. “The masked men in unmarked cars, no license plate, no real uniforms, jumping out of cars with rifles and snatching people off the street, leading a lot of people to think maybe kidnappings were taking place.”
Read the full article from Here
(KRON)– An 18-year-old is dead, and several others are injured after an early morning crash on eastbound I-80, near the 7th street off ramp in San Francisco’s SoMa district, according to California Highway Patrol San Francisco (CHP SF).
The crash occurred around 1:00 a.m. between a tractor-trailer, a Recology truck semi, and a grey Chevrolet Camaro, according to CHP officials.
Police said the Camaro was traveling eastbound just west of 7th Street when it made an illegal lane change to the right, colliding with the tractor-trailer as it was approaching the off-ramp.
Both vehicles crashed into the sand barrels at the top of the 7th Street off-ramp, officials said. The tractor-trailer continued onto the offramp, where it came to a stop, blocking all lanes.
After hitting the sand barrels, the Camaro continued, launching over the off-ramp bridge railing, where it dropped 25 feet and landed in the San Francisco Police Department Impound parking lot beneath the off-ramp and hitting several vehicles in the impound yard, police said. The Camaro landed upside down on top of another car.
Police said four people were inside the Camaro. The driver, an 18-year-old man, had moderate injuries and managed to get himself out of the car, police said. The right front passenger, a 17-year-old male, suffered moderate injuries as well.
The two rear passengers, both 18-year-old men, suffered major injuries. One is being treated at a local hospital, and the other was pronounced dead at 1:50 a.m. at the scene of the crash, police said.
The other three passengers in the Camaro were wearing seatbelts, and the 18-year-old who died was not wearing a seatbelt.
CHP SF officials do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in this crash.
SEATTLE – After waking up to a smattering of clouds this morning, skies gradually cleared through the afternoon as sunshine increased around Western Washington. Temperatures climbed into the low 60s for many communities, making for a pleasant and quiet start to the weekend.
What’s next:
Sunday will remain mild and dry with a little more warmth expected across the region. Winds will shift to a more northerly direction, helping temperatures inch upward compared to Saturday.
Sunny weather helps Seattle reach the low to mid 80s Tuesday during the warmest day of the week. (FOX 13 Seattle)
The warming trend will continue Monday as highs climb into the 70s under mostly sunny skies.
By Tuesday, a developing thermal trough along the Cascades will help usher in the warmest air of the week. Sunshine is expected throughout the day with temperatures soaring into the low to mid 80s for many communities.
Some of the traditionally warmer locations could climb even higher. The warmer, drier air will also raise fire danger across parts of the region.
This weather pattern helps Seattle experience sinking air, abundant sunshine, and significantly warmer temperatures. (FOX 13 Seattle)
Water safety on hot days
If you’re planning to cool off at area lakes, rivers, creeks, or streams, remember that water temperatures remain dangerously cold despite the warmer air. Wearing a life vest is strongly encouraged.
Stay heat aware on Tuesday as Seattle weather warms quickly while rivers and lakes remain dangerously cold. (FOX 13 Seattle)
The heat will begin easing Wednesday as temperatures fall back into the low 70s. A cooler onshore flow pattern will continue Thursday and Friday, bringing highs back into the 60s. An isolated shower or two may develop Friday as a weak weather system approaches the Pacific Northwest.
Cooler weather returns to Seattle later in the week with highs back in the 60s and a slight shower chance Friday. (FOX 13 Seattle)
Take good care,
Meteorologist Abby Acone and the FOX 13 Weather Team
MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Former Renton, WA youth pastor arrested on suspicion of child molestation
Man accused of cutting tent, kidnapping two women camping near public trail
Millionaires tax will likely appear on November ballot
Tacoma, WA college student detained after mass shooting threats, shotgun seized
Where to watch FIFA World Cup matches in Seattle and Washington
DUI crash suspect in Kent, WA tells police he was ‘drinking Buzzballz’
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoMotorcyclist killed by hit-and-run truck driver in Sun Valley
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoClear skies give Metro Detroit perfect Blue Moon viewing weather
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoH-E-B files construction permit for Dallas location, next step towards 2028 open
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours ago18-year-old dies in crash on I-80 near SoMa district
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoLive Updates from Florida Gators vs. Miami Hurricanes in Gainesville Regional
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoPolice Blotter: Cambridge meth chemist sentenced to prison; Boston firefighters make high-flying save
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoColorado outdoor spirit, music comes to downtown Denver
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoMild weekend weather in Seattle before 80s return
