Gov. Gavin Newsom has been slammed for signing a raft of laws targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents – including a ban on the federal agency’s use of shock gloves.
The California governor portrayed the new laws as necessary oversight of an immigration enforcement operation he says has gone too far.
In addition to the ban on “wearable electroshock devices,” Newsom backed state Democrats’ controversial move to prohibit ICE agents accused of serious misconduct from later being employed as California peace officers or state employees.
A broader bill to ban all immigration enforcement agents from getting state jobs for being “immoral individuals” remains unsigned.
“Governor, we’ve been through this already. If you want to regulate federal agents, you have to win a federal election. Until then, you have no jurisdiction,” Essayli said.
But First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli claimed California has no authority to regulate federal agents and urged them to ignore the shock-glove law.
Republicans have also blasted attempts to ban ICE agents from state jobs as petty politics.
“It’s unfair to so many people that are good people that are working for an agency and they’re just doing their job,” state Sen. Kelly Seyarto said.
“It is pigeonholing people that have no reason for us to be pigeonholing them and keeping them from employment.”
Republicans also argued that the combative nature of the bills does little to help solve the immigration issue.
Newsom signed several other laws aimed at protecting immigrants under ICE scrutiny, including measures safeguarding eligibility for public benefits.
“Trump has put his political interests above the health, safety and livelihood of American families,” Newsom said in a statement.
“We will continue protecting our people, upholding the rule of law, and making clear that if the federal government operates in California, we will hold them accountable.”
The anti-ICE measures have sparked pushback from conservatives and raised questions over the extent to which a state government can regulate a federal agency.
“I think this is a little bit more about politics and a little less about policy,” state Sen. Tony Strickland said of one of the measures during a floor session.
“My advice to you is repeal the sanctuary city and state laws and let’s work with federal government.”
Newsom has already been burned in court over his attempts to rein in federal agents.
A federal judge, for example, halted enforcement of a California law this year that sought to ban federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks. Legislative analyses have warned some of the latest measures may face similar legal challenges.
Newsom is also targeting private detention facilities used to house illegal immigrants, imposing a new 25% tax on their revenue.
Money raised by the tax will go toward immigration-related services, while separate legislation gives the state attorney general stronger oversight of the facilities.
Another new law gives Californians the ability to sue federal officials accused of violating their federal constitutional rights, with claims dating back to March 2025.
The law’s author, Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, said it was designed to help “victims” of ICE raids fight back.
“ICE and Border Patrol have terrorized California communities with impunity. That ends today,” Wiener said in a statement.
