Rep. Eric Swalwell signaled Wednesday that he would dramatically escalate California’s confrontation with federal immigration authorities if elected governor, vowing to strip driver’s licenses from federal officers who wear masks while carrying out enforcement operations in the state.
Speaking to MS NOW, Swalwell argued that California should use its licensing authority as leverage against federal agents. “If the governor has the ability to issue driver’s licenses to people in California, if you’re going to wear a mask and not identify yourself, you’re not going to be eligible to drive a vehicle in California,” Swalwell said, outlining a proposal that would directly target federal immigration officers.
His comments came as a new California law banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from wearing masks during operations officially took effect Thursday. The legislation, signed in September by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, was framed by state leaders as an accountability measure. Newsom said at the time of signing that ICE agents would no longer be “hidden from accountability” while operating in California communities.
The move immediately triggered pushback from Washington. The Department of Homeland Security vowed it would not comply with the law, and the Trump administration filed a lawsuit in November arguing the ban is unconstitutional and interferes with federal authority. The case quickly became another flashpoint in the broader struggle between California’s Democratic leadership and President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.
On Dec. 9, California officials agreed not to enforce the mask ban temporarily while the case moved through the courts. That pause ended after U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder denied the federal government’s request for a preliminary injunction on Dec. 22. A further hearing in the case is scheduled for Jan. 12.
Trump administration officials have continued to argue that California is overstepping its authority. Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, reiterated that position on Friday, posting on X that “California has no authority to regulate federal agents.” The administration has maintained that state laws cannot dictate how federal officers carry out their duties.
The dispute is unfolding as the Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement in California since Trump returned to office last January. The state has long been a focal point of the national immigration debate. According to the Pew Research Center, roughly 2.25 million immigrants who entered the country illegally were living in California as of 2023, the highest total of any state.
Tensions boiled over earlier this year when migrant communities in Los Angeles protested ICE raids in June. The unrest prompted Trump to deploy the California National Guard and U.S. Marines, a move made over Newsom’s objections. In September, a federal judge ruled that deployment unconstitutional, further fueling the legal and political battle between Sacramento and Washington.
Swalwell’s latest comments suggest Democrats in California are prepared to push even further if given the opportunity, using state powers to directly confront federal immigration enforcement. For supporters of stricter border control, the proposal underscores what they see as California’s willingness to undermine federal law.
For critics, it raises serious constitutional questions about whether a state can punish federal officers for doing their jobs. As the legal fight continues, the clash highlights how immigration remains one of the most divisive and volatile issues in American politics.
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