Officers who cover their faces could be charged with a misdemeanor under California proposal
State Senators Anthony Wiener, D-San Francisco, left, and Jesse Arreguin, D-Berkeley, announce a proposed bill that would prohibit law enforcement from covering their faces while working in the state, Monday, June 16, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)
By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ
Local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who cover their faces while conducting official business could face a misdemeanor charge in California under a new proposal announced Monday.
The bill would require all law enforcement officials show their faces and be identifiable by their uniform, which should carry their name or other identifier. It would not apply to the National Guard or other troops and it exempts SWAT teams and officers responding to natural disasters.
State Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat representing San Francisco, and State Sen. Jesse Arreguin, a Democrat representing Berkeley and Oakland, said the proposal seeks to boost transparency and public trust in law enforcement. It also looks to protect against people trying to impersonate law enforcement, they said.
'We are seeing more and more law enforcement officers, particularly at the federal level, covering their faces entirely, not identifying themselves at all and, at times, even wearing army fatigues where we can't tell if these are law enforcement officers or a vigilante militia,' Wiener said.
'They are grabbing people off our streets and disappearing people, and it's terrifying,' he added.
In Los Angeles, a series of immigration raids June 6 by federal officers, some with face coverings, triggered days of turbulent protests across the city and beyond and led President Donald Trump to deploy National Guard troops and Marines to the LA area. More than 100 people were detained during those raids and immigrant advocates say they have not been able to contact them.
The state senators said that in recent months, federal officers have conducted raids while covering their faces, and at times their badges and names, in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Concord, Downey and Montebello.
'Law enforcement officers are public servants and people should be able to see their faces, see who they are, know who they are. Otherwise, there is no transparency and no accountability,' Wiener said.
Videos of raids showing masked officers using unmarked vehicles and grabbing people off the streets have circulated on social media in recent weeks.
Todd Lyons, ICE's acting director, has defended his officers using facemasks, saying they wear them to protect themselves from death threats and online harassment.
'I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line because people don't like what immigration enforcement is,' he said at a news conference earlier this month in Boston to announce nearly 1,500 arrests in the region as part of a monthlong 'surge operation.'
© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
6 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Now we are six: G7 leaders try to salvage their summit after Trump's early exit
KANANASKIS, Alberta (AP) -- Six of the Group of Seven leaders are trying on the final day of their Tuesday to show the wealthy nations' club still has the clout to shape world events despite the early departure of President Donald Trump. Prime Minister Mark Carney and his counterparts from the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Japan will be joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO chief Mark Rutte to discuss Russia's relentless war on its neighbor. World leaders had gathered in Canada with the specific goal of helping to defuse a series of pressure points, only to be disrupted by a showdown over Iran's nuclear program that could escalate in dangerous and uncontrollable ways. Israel launched an aerial bombardment campaign against Iran on Friday, and Iran has hit back with missiles and drones. Trump left the summit in the Canadian Rocky Mountain resort of Kananaskis a day early late Monday, saying: "I have to be back, very important." It came as conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies and the U.S. leader declared that Tehran should be evacuated "immediately" -- while also expressing optimism about a deal to stop the violence. Before leaving, Trump joined the other leaders in issuing a statement saying Iran "can never have a nuclear weapon" and calling for a "de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza." Getting unanimity -- even on a short and broadly worded statement -- was a modest measure of success for the group. At the summit, Trump warned that Tehran needs to curb its nuclear program before it's "too late." He said Iranian leaders would "like to talk" but they had already had 60 days to reach an agreement on their nuclear ambitions and failed to do so before the Israeli aerial assault began. "They have to make a deal," he said. Asked what it would take for the U.S. to get involved in the conflict militarily, Trump said Monday morning, "I don't want to talk about that." But by Monday afternoon, Trump warned ominously on social media, "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" Shortly after that, Trump decided to leave the summit and skip a series of Tuesday meetings that would address the war in Ukraine and trade issues. The sudden departure only heightened the drama of a world that seems on verge of several firestorms. Trump already has imposed severe tariffs on multiple nations that risk a global economic slowdown. There has been little progress on settling the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Trump's stance on Ukraine puts him fundamentally at odds with the other G7 leaders, who back Ukraine and are clear that Russia is the aggressor in the war. The U.S. president on Monday suggested there would have been no war if G7 members hadn't expelled Putin from the organization in 2014 for annexing Crimea. Trump on Monday demurred when asked if he supported Russia, saying "I only care about saving lives." With talks on ending the war at an impasse, Starmer said Britain and other G7 members were slapping new tariffs on Russia in a bid to get it to the ceasefire negotiating table. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to attend the summit Tuesday at Carney's invitation, along with other leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NATO chief Mark Rutte. Trump declined to join in the sanctions on Russia, saying he would wait until Europe did so first. "When I sanction a country that costs the U.S. a lot of money, a tremendous amount of money," he said. Trump had been scheduled before his departure to meet with Zelenskyy and with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. On the Middle East, Merz told reporters that Germany was planning to draw up a final communique proposal on the Israel-Iran conflict that will stress that "Iran must under no circumstances be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons-capable material." Trump also seemed to put a greater priority on addressing his grievances with other nations' trade policies than on collaboration with G7 allies. The U.S. president has imposed 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum as well as 25% tariffs on autos. Trump is also charging a 10% tax on imports from most countries, though he could raise rates on July 9, after the 90-day negotiating period set by him would expire. He announced with Starmer that they had signed a trade framework Monday that was previously announced in May, with Trump saying that British trade was "very well protected' because "I like them, that's why. That's their ultimate protection."
Yomiuri Shimbun
9 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Military Parade in U.S. Capital: President's Appropriation of the Military is Unacceptable
Amid unceasing warfare in Ukraine and the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump held a military parade in the U.S. capital following the deployment of the military to deal with protests inside the country. One cannot help but sense danger in Trump's approach of demonstrating power to the people of his country. On June 14, the Trump administration held a military parade in Washington to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. It was Trump's 79th birthday on the day. Vice President JD Vance congratulated the president on his birthday in a speech, and the crowd sang 'Happy Birthday.' At the very least, Trump should have avoided scheduling the event in a way that could be seen as mixing public and private matters. Authoritarian countries such as Russia, China and North Korea regularly hold military parades to demonstrate their military power and the unifying power of their political leaders. On the other hand, the United States has not held a large-scale military parade in its capital since 1991, following the end of the Gulf War. This is only because the U.S. military, as the military of a democratic country, is required to maintain a high level of political neutrality, which past administrations have also emphasized. In contrast, Trump expressed a desire to hold a military parade in his first administration, but he did not do so due to opposition from then Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other officials. His second administration is solidly composed of loyalists, with no senior military officials or experts to put the brakes on Trump's measures. The parade is estimated to have cost up to $45 million (about ¥6.5 billion). Is this not inconsistent with the administration's claim that it is optimizing administrative efficiency? By mobilizing the military and emphasizing that he will not hesitate to use force, Trump may be trying to project an image of a strong leader and solidify the Republican Party's base of support. When protests broke out in Los Angeles, Calif., following a roundup of illegal immigrants, Trump dispatched the National Guard without the approval of the local state governor. He also deployed U.S. Marines, who are prohibited in principle from enforcing the law in the country. If it were the case that Trump was attempting to mobilize the military at will in order to suppress opposing opinions within the country and oust his political opponents, including Democratic state governors, he would not be able to evade the accusation that he appropriated the military. On the day of the military parade, protests against Trump with the slogan 'No Kings' were held in about 2,000 locations across the country. Meanwhile, in the Midwestern state of Minnesota, two Democratic state legislators and others were shot, and the demonstrations were canceled. In the United States, social unrest and divisions are deepening, and violence is casting a dark shadow over the nation. Under such circumstances, the president must strictly refrain from using the military for political purposes. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 17, 2025)
The Mainichi
9 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Israel orders 300,000 people in Tehran to evacuate while Trump issues ominous warning
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) -- Israel warned hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate the middle of Iran's capital as Israel's air campaign on Tehran appeared to broaden on the fourth day of an intensifying conflict. An Iranian television anchor fled her studio during a live broadcast as bombs fell on the headquarters of the country's state-run TV station. U.S. President Donald Trump posted an ominous message on his social media site later Monday calling for the immediate evacuation of Tehran. "IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON," Trump wrote, adding that "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on social media shortly after Trump's post that he was returning from the G7 summit in Canada a day early due to the intensifying conflict between. Israel says strikes have set back nuclear program Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli strikes have set Iran's nuclear program back a "very, very long time," and told reporters he is in daily touch with Trump. "The regime is very weak," he added. Israel says its sweeping assault on Iran's top military leaders, uranium enrichment sites and nuclear scientists, is necessary to prevent its longtime adversary from getting any closer to building an atomic weapon. The strikes have killed at least 224 people since Friday. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, and the U.S. and others have assessed that Tehran has not had an organized effort to pursue a nuclear weapon since 2003. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned that the country has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs should it choose to do so. Iran has retaliated by launching more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel and more than 500 injured. The back-and-forth has raised concerns about all-out war between the countries and propelled the region, already on edge, into even greater upheaval. Israel's military issues evacuation warning affecting up to 330,000 people Earlier Monday, Israel's military issued an evacuation warning to 330,000 people in a part of central Tehran that houses the country's state TV and police headquarters, as well as three large hospitals, including one owned by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The city, one of the region's largest, is home to around 9.5 million people. Israel's military has issued similar evacuation warnings for civilians in parts of Gaza and Lebanon ahead of strikes. State-run television abruptly stopped a live broadcast after the station was hit, according to Iran's state-run news agency. While on the air, an Iranian state television reporter said the studio was filling with dust after "the sound of aggression against the homeland." Suddenly, an explosion occurred, cutting the screen behind her as she hurried off camera. The broadcast quickly switched to prerecorded programs. The station later said its building was hit by four bombs. An anchor said on air that a few colleagues had been hurt, but their families should not be worried. The network said its live programs were transferred to another studio. Israel claims 'full aerial superiority' over Tehran Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Monday that his country's forces had "achieved full aerial superiority over Tehran's skies." The military said it destroyed more than 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers in central Iran, a third of Iran's total, as well as two F-14 planes that Iran used to target Israeli aircraft and multiple launchers just before they launched ballistic missiles towards Israel. Israeli military officials also said fighter jets had struck 10 command centers in Tehran belonging to Iran's Quds Force, an elite arm of its Revolutionary Guard that conducts military and intelligence operations outside Iran. The Israeli strikes "amount to a deep and comprehensive blow to the Iranian threat," Defrin said. One missile fell near the American consulate in Tel Aviv, with its blast waves causing minor damage, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said on X. He added that no American personnel were injured. Explosions rock Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva and Haifa oil refinery Powerful explosions rocked Tel Aviv shortly before dawn Monday, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky over the coastal city. Authorities in the central Israeli city of Petah Tikva said Iranian missiles hit a residential building there, charring concrete walls, shattering windows and ripping the walls off multiple apartments. Iranian missiles also hit an oil refinery in the northern city of Haifa for the second night in a row. The early morning strike killed three workers, ignited a significant fire and damaged a building, Israel's fire and rescue services said. The workers were sheltering in the building's safe room when the impact caused a stairwell to collapse, trapping them inside. Firefighters rushed to extinguish the fire and rescue them, but the three died before rescuers could reach them. No sign of conflict letting up Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, appeared to make a veiled outreach Monday for the U.S. to step in and negotiate an end to hostilities between Israel and Iran. In a post on X, Araghchi wrote that if Trump is "genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential." "It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu," Iran's top diplomat wrote. "That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy." The message to Washington was sent as the latest talks between the U.S. and Iran were canceled over the weekend after Israel targeted key military and political officials in Tehran. On Sunday, Araghchi said that Iran will stop its strikes if Israel does the same. The conflict has also forced most countries in the Middle East to close their airspace. Dozens of airports have stopped all flights or severely reduced operations, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded and others unable to flee the conflict or travel home. Health authorities reported that 1,277 people were wounded in Iran. Iranians also reported fuel rationing. Rights groups such as the Washington-based Iranian advocacy group Human Rights Activists have suggested that the Iranian government's death toll is a significant undercount. The group says it has documented more than 400 people killed, among them 197 civilians. Ahead of Israel's initial attack, its Mossad spy agency positioned explosive drones and precision weapons inside Iran. Since then, Iran has reportedly detained several people and hanged one on suspicion of espionage.
