OLYMPIA, WA – Legislators in the state of Washington are reportedly eyeing down a potential ban on face coverings for law enforcement officers ahead of the 2026 legislative session. The reported move comes at a time when Democrat leaders have been critical of the Trump administration due to federal agents adorning face coverings while conducting immigration enforcement operations across the country.
Back in September, California became the first state to enact a law banning the use of face coverings by law enforcement officers, a clear retaliatory piece of legislation aimed at the ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations amid numerous states.
As previously reported in Law Enforcement Today, death threats against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have skyrocketed since the onset of the current administration, hence agents’ adoption of face coverings in order to hinder doxing attempts. In light of the California law prohibiting face coverings for law enforcement, which said law attempts to extend to federal authorities, the Justice Department filed suit against the state.
In the lawsuit brought forth by the Justice Department, the federal government argues that California’s newly enacted law attempts to regulate federal authorities despite the fact that “the Federal Government, not California, has authority to control its own agents and activities” via standing U.S. law as well as the Supremacy Clause.
Despite the legal efficacy of California’s face covering ban currently being examined by the courts, Democrats in the state of Washington are already considering bringing forth their own iteration of a face covering ban for law enforcement.
Democrat Rep. Julio Cortes is a among those leading the legislative effort in Washington, saying of the endeavor, “Trust is essential for crime reporting. When folks trust their local law enforcement, they are going to be reporting more crime. When we see ICE out there, when those masked agents are out in communities, they create fear and intimidation, and that discourages community members from interacting with any law enforcement, even when they need help themselves.”
When questioned on the high likelihood of such a law, if passed, being challenged federally, Rep. Cortes stated, “That’s maybe a bridge that we’ll cross when we get there.” Meanwhile, Washington AG Nick Brown confirmed his office is monitoring both the potential state law and the ongoing case in California, confirming that if the California law is shut down pertaining to impacting federal authorities, Washington state would follow suit and confirm the law only applies to state and local law enforcement.
Back in September, California became the first state to enact a law banning the use of face coverings by law enforcement officers, a clear retaliatory piece of legislation aimed at the ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations amid numerous states.
As previously reported in Law Enforcement Today, death threats against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have skyrocketed since the onset of the current administration, hence agents’ adoption of face coverings in order to hinder doxing attempts. In light of the California law prohibiting face coverings for law enforcement, which said law attempts to extend to federal authorities, the Justice Department filed suit against the state.
In the lawsuit brought forth by the Justice Department, the federal government argues that California’s newly enacted law attempts to regulate federal authorities despite the fact that “the Federal Government, not California, has authority to control its own agents and activities” via standing U.S. law as well as the Supremacy Clause.
Despite the legal efficacy of California’s face covering ban currently being examined by the courts, Democrats in the state of Washington are already considering bringing forth their own iteration of a face covering ban for law enforcement.
Democrat Rep. Julio Cortes is a among those leading the legislative effort in Washington, saying of the endeavor, “Trust is essential for crime reporting. When folks trust their local law enforcement, they are going to be reporting more crime. When we see ICE out there, when those masked agents are out in communities, they create fear and intimidation, and that discourages community members from interacting with any law enforcement, even when they need help themselves.”
When questioned on the high likelihood of such a law, if passed, being challenged federally, Rep. Cortes stated, “That’s maybe a bridge that we’ll cross when we get there.” Meanwhile, Washington AG Nick Brown confirmed his office is monitoring both the potential state law and the ongoing case in California, confirming that if the California law is shut down pertaining to impacting federal authorities, Washington state would follow suit and confirm the law only applies to state and local law enforcement.
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