The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday shot down California’s “No Vigilantes Act” (SB 805) which forced non-uniformed federal officers to visibly display their agency affiliation and name or badge number during enforcement operations in the state.
The Court ruled unanimously that SB 805, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom (D) in September 2025, violates the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and issued a preliminary injunction blocking the state from enforcing the law.
A companion “No Secret Police Act” (SB 627), which banned masks, was separately blocked by a lower court in February 2026.
The legislation was crafted in reaction to federal immigration enforcement efforts in the state by masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The laws would have allowed the state to prosecute ICE agents for failing to identify themselves.
The U.S. Department of Justice sued California, arguing the law violated the Supremacy Clause by attempting to directly regulate federal law enforcement operations. A lower court initially allowed the identification requirement to stand, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed this decision, ruling that a state cannot impose uniform or identification mandates on federal officers.
Judge Mark J. Bennett, writing for the panel, stated that the law “attempts to directly regulate the United States in its performance of governmental functions,” which is prohibited by the Supremacy Clause regardless of the degree of interference with federal operations.
Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, reacted to the ruling on X, saying: “Huge win for the Supremacy Clause. California continues to violate the U.S. Constitution, and we will continue to hold them accountable.”
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Before signing the bills in September 2025, Newsom taunted ICE during a press conference, saying “ICE, unmask—what are you afraid of? What are you afraid of?”
Democrats are well aware that federal immigration officers have faced a huge uptick in assaults since President Trump came to office— more than 1,600 percent, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
As immigration agents have worked to remove dangerous criminal illegals off American streets, liberal activists and even Democrat office holders have worked to unmask them, subjecting them and their families to threats and harassment.
Organizations dedicated to doxing federal officers, according to the Department of Homeland Security, include Antifa-affiliated groups based in Portland called “Rose City Counter-Info” and “The Crustian Daily.”
Both groups have previously published the names, pictures, and personal address of ICE officers on their websites.
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