New state law goes into effect January 1, State Senator Arreguín says ICE should comply now
State Senator Jesse Arreguín issued an email to constituents on Monday, November 10, confirming that the FBI issued a warning that criminals are posing as agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and urging actual ICE agents to clearly identify themselves.
Senator Arreguín, who represents District 7 (including Alameda), reaffirmed the critical importance of the “No Secret Police Act” (SB 627) and pointed to the crimes committed by ICE impersonators as an indication that ICE should immediately begin compliance with SB 627.
“This alert from the FBI is a loud and unmistakable signal that our work is not just timely, it’s critical for public safety,” Arreguín stated. “When armed operatives walk into our communities obscuring their face, and without a badge or a name, the public’s trust is broken and the risk to everyone increases. That risk is significantly heightened when there are known impersonators exploiting ICE’s propensity to withhold their identity. Public safety demands that ICE immediately comply with SB 627 rather than wait until next year.”
SB 627, which was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 20, goes into effect January 1, 2026. It will require most law enforcement to show visible ID, wear name or badge numbers, and prohibit face coverings except in narrowly defined situations.
Arreguín’s email stated that the FBI bulletin noted that masked criminals masquerading as ICE agents have carried out robberies, kidnappings, and assaults. A Newsweek report noted that sexual assaults also were on the list of crimes committed by ICE impersonators.
“Due to the recent increase in ICE enforcement actions across the country, criminal actors are using ICE’s enhanced public profile and media coverage to their advantage to target vulnerable communities and commit criminal activity,” the bulletin said.
The FBI bulletin showed that the line between real officers and imposters has been dangerously blurred, Arreguín noted. FBI guidance urges agents to clearly identify themselves and to cooperate with verification requests.
“SB 627 is precisely the kind of legislation that addresses this moment—requiring transparency, accountability and identifiable law-enforcement personnel,” Arreguín stated. “The fact that the FBI is effectively telling ICE to identify themselves proves that we can no longer postpone this reform.”
Key features of SB 627
California’s new law, which will go into effect on January 1, 2026, prohibits an officer of any local, state, or federal law-enforcement agency from covering their face during operations unless narrowly exempted (SWAT, medical masks, wildfire smoke gear).
It also mandates visible identifiers such as name or badge number on the uniform.
The law applies to any person acting on behalf of a law-enforcement agency, closing a gap that allows impersonators to exploit anonymity.
It is designed to rebuild trust in public-safety institutions and protect communities from misidentification, abuse, or impersonation.
Read the full text of the law online.
