California, Sep 21 (NationPress) California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared that he has enacted a set of laws designed to safeguard immigrants within the state. The No Secret Police Act represents a groundbreaking approach, being the first of its kind in the nation, that outright forbids officers from donning masks while on duty.

During an event at a high school in Los Angeles on Saturday (local time), Newsom announced the signing of five bills into law. The No Secret Police Act broadly prohibits both federal and local law enforcement officials from wearing face coverings while executing their responsibilities.

Additionally, Newsom implemented a bill mandating that state and federal law enforcement personnel disclose their identities by displaying their badge numbers or names while in service, except when operating undercover, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.

The remaining three bills signed on Saturday impose restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to educational institutions and daycare centers, prohibit healthcare providers from sharing sensitive information or permitting agents to enter emergency rooms without a warrant, and necessitate family notifications when agents arrive at school premises.

"It's akin to a dystopian sci-fi film," Newsom remarked during the event. "Unmarked vehicles, individuals in masks, people literally vanishing."

"There’s no due process, no rights. Immigrants possess rights, and we are entitled to resist," he further stated.

This legislative package was enacted amid US President Donald Trump's extensive deportation initiatives. The governor subsequently expressed on X that these new laws are "a direct response" to Trump's "lawless immigration raids and arrests in California."

California Democrats began crafting the immigration-related legislation shortly after Trump's inauguration in January. Their efforts intensified following aggressive immigration enforcement in Southern California, which incited weeks of protests in Los Angeles and led to the deployment of the National Guard.

"All of this legislative pushback is to protect Angelenos from their own federal government. That is significant," remarked Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass at Saturday's gathering, where she was joined by Newsom and other local Democratic leaders.

ICE has faced backlash from California residents and communities for permitting agents to wear face-covering masks and casual attire, citing concerns for officers and their families' safety.

In a statement on Saturday, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin condemned the new laws signed by Newsom as "despicable" and "a blatant attempt to jeopardize our officers."

Legal analysts indicated that the laws may provide limited protection to immigrants and could encounter constitutional challenges from the federal government.

Kevin Johnson, a professor of immigration law and former dean of UC Davis School of Law, remarked that the legislation might have a minimal effect on federal enforcement actions.

He observed that a 2018 California law limiting immigration arrests at superior court buildings did not prevent the Trump administration from detaining individuals at courts this year.

"The federal government will persist in its actions, in one form or another," Johnson stated. "However, I believe this legislation offers some hope and optimism to communities that feel under siege, vulnerable, and essentially marginalized by the federal government."