United States v. California

On behalf of 14 California local governments and leaders, Public Rights Project filed an amicus brief in a case challenging two California laws prohibiting law enforcement from wearing facial coverings and requiring identification when on duty. The laws were passed in response to frequent and destructive immigration enforcement occurring throughout the State.

The federal government is challenging the laws. Our brief supports California’s laws and opposes the federal government’s request to block their enforcement.

The brief argues that anonymity in law enforcement decreases public safety and trust in law enforcement, citing examples of people being physically assaulted by masked federal agents. The fear of harassment — and the ability to seek relief because of federal agents’ anonymity – prevents people from going to work, visiting local businesses, and sending children to school. The brief explains that local governments must divert their resources when local police departments respond to increased calls from concerned residents. It also emphasizes that federal law enforcement’s anonymity curtails Californians’ ability to seek redress when serious constitutional violations occur.

Read the amicus brief.

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Update:

On April 28, 2026, Public Rights Project filed an amicus brief supporting a California law that requires local, state, and federal law enforcement officers to wear visible identification (ID) while on duty. This brief — our second in the case — urges the appeals court to uphold a district court’s ruling denying the federal government’s request to block the ID requirement. It was filed on behalf of 28 local governments and leaders. 

We argue that when federal agents conceal their identities, it creates widespread confusion and fear — undermining public safety and enabling criminal impersonation. The brief makes four key arguments explaining why federal law enforcement shouldn’t operate anonymously:

• Resources are diverted: When federal agents are unidentifiable, local police departments field more calls from concerned residents, investigate alleged crimes committed by unidentified federal officers, and need to retrain officers on how to respond.
• Public safety is eroded: When residents lose trust in law enforcement, they’re more likely to underreport crimes, avoid police assistance, or aid an investigation. Without community cooperation, public safety suffers.
• Longstanding norms are broken: Law enforcement — local and federal — have always worn visible identification that includes their agency name and either a name or badge number.
• Accountability is lost: When officers hide their identities, abuses can go unchecked, leaving individuals unable to hold offending officers accountable when their rights are violated.

Following an early opinion from the Ninth Circuit, California was barred from enforcing the law pending completion of the appeal. The brief also argues that prohibiting states and local governments from requiring visible identification violates the exercise of their independent police powers.

Read the amicus brief.