California Governor Gavin Newsom has once again signed into law a measure that reveals more about political priorities than public safety. On Saturday, Newsom approved SB 627, a bill that bans nearly all law enforcement officers from wearing masks, with one glaring exception: the California Highway Patrol, which happens to be tasked with protecting former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The legislation, introduced by State Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco—well known for advancing extreme measures such as creating a “sanctuary state” for transgender surgeries for minors—was framed as a way to stop so-called “secret police.” But critics point out the real target is federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whose officers often use masks for protection during high-risk operations and to shield their families from retaliation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli was blunt about the overreach, saying Newsom has “no jurisdiction” over ICE officers. He noted the new law will have “no effect” on ICE operations, underscoring the fact that under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, federal agencies are not bound by state directives. Essayli then offered a sharp reminder of where state priorities should lie, challenging Newsom to try banning masks “among criminals” instead.
For Newsom, however, the law was touted as a political victory. His office boasted that he had signed “the nation’s strongest laws to protect residents from tactics being employed by President Trump and Stephen Miller’s secret police.” The rhetoric, aimed squarely at stirring partisan division, shows how state power is being wielded less for community safety and more for political theater.
From a conservative lens, the move reflects a troubling pattern in California governance: bureaucratic overreach designed to score ideological points rather than address real problems. The ban on masks for law enforcement officers not only puts individual officers at risk but also threatens to expose their families to retaliation. It strips away a layer of protection from the very people tasked with enforcing the law, while carving out special privileges for the political class.
The irony is hard to miss. This is the same governor who enforced some of the strictest mask and vaccine mandates in the nation during the pandemic. In 2020, when Californians sought relief on the beaches of Orange County during the first warm spring weekend, Newsom ordered the coastline closed, despite evidence that outdoor transmission posed little risk. And all the while, he famously ignored his own rules, dining maskless at the French Laundry, one of the most exclusive restaurants in the state.
This latest mask ban tells a familiar story: rules for law enforcement and ordinary Californians, exemptions for the politically connected. At a time when crime remains a pressing concern, particularly in urban centers hollowed out by rising theft and violence, California’s leadership is focused not on protecting communities but on restricting the very officers who do. By singling out ICE and tying law enforcement hands, Sacramento sends a clear message—that ideology outweighs security, and political vendettas matter more than common-sense solutions.
The broader consequence is erosion of trust in institutions. When leaders use state power to pursue ideological battles against federal agencies, while carving exceptions for their allies, the result is not stronger safety but greater division. California’s residents deserve a government that prioritizes security, consistency, and fairness. Instead, they are left with symbolic laws that make headlines but do little to keep families safe.
He should be in jail,but since the whole state voted for this idiot, the whole state should be in jail .
AMERICA DEMAND BOYCOTTING FOR LIBERALS PROGRESSIVES AND TYRANTS DEMOCRATS THEY ARE EVIL DOERS ALSO DEFUND CALIFORNIA