DOJ arrests Santa Monica man for doxxing ICE attorney as California's mask‑ban law draws criticism
The Justice Department arrested 68-year-old Santa Monica resident Gregory John Curcio and charged him with publishing an ICE attorney’s home address in February and encouraging “SWAT” calls, with prosecutors saying the posting was malicious; he was jailed without bond and is due for an October arraignment. The move comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 627 — the “No Secret Police Act” — banning most on‑duty face coverings for local and federal officers in California (with narrow exemptions) to force identifiability, a measure supporters tie to recent masked immigration raids while federal officials and DHS officials have blasted the law as unenforceable against federal agents and dangerous to officer safety.
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📰 Sources (9)
CA prosecutor slams mask law after doxxing arrest as ICE raid architect warns copycats
New information:
- Gregory John Curcio, 68, of Santa Monica was arrested and charged by DOJ with publishing private/identifying information about an ICE attorney with alleged malicious intent.
- DOJ says Curcio posted the attorney’s home address in February and encouraged 'SWAT' calls; he was jailed without bond and is due for an October arraignment.
- ICE Operation 'At Large' Commander Gregory Bovino publicly warned potential copycats via social media, and U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli issued statements arguing the arrest shows why agents need the ability to shield identities.
Newsom on courtroom collision course with Trump over ICE mask ban
New information:
- A DHS spokesperson publicly said of California’s mask ban: “We don’t need to abide by this garbage,” signaling federal noncompliance.
- Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (C.D. Cal.) told Fox & Friends he believes the law is unenforceable against federal officers, predicts Newsom will sue, and says the state has no jurisdiction over federal operations.
- California attorney Neama Rahmani cited the Supremacy Clause and officer safety (doxxing risk) in arguing courts could strike down the mask mandate for federal agents.
- Article notes the Supreme Court recently allowed ICE to continue immigration stops at certain workplaces but did not address officers’ attire; the mask-ban law takes effect in January.
California bans face coverings for most law enforcement officers during operations
New information:
- Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said California has no jurisdiction over federal agents, told agencies the mask ban has no effect on their operations, and that agents will continue to protect their identities.
- Essayli referred Gov. Newsom’s social post about DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to the Secret Service for a threat assessment.
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the law as endangering officers, citing rising assaults and doxxing risks as reasons some agents wear masks.
- Newsom framed the law as a response to masked federal raids in Los Angeles, criticizing 'unmarked cars' and 'people in masks' detaining individuals without visible identification.
Newsom bans law enforcement from wearing masks, taunts ICE agents: 'What are you afraid of?'
New information:
- The law makes wearing masks or disguises while conducting official duties a misdemeanor crime for local, state, or federal officers, with exemptions for undercover work and tactical protective gear.
- Adds civil penalties for tortious conduct (e.g., false imprisonment or false arrest) committed while an officer is wearing a facial covering.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom publicly challenged ICE agents during the signing, saying, “To ICE: unmask. What are you afraid of?”
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin responded that federal agents already must identify themselves, called the move dangerous, and cited a reported 1,000% surge in assaults on ICE officers.
- Article notes uncertainty about how the new California law will be enforced and mentions similar proposals in other states (Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania).
California bans masks for most law enforcement officers
New information:
- Adds explicit federal pushback: Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said California lacks jurisdiction over federal agents, told agencies the mask ban has no effect, and stated 'Our agents will continue to protect their identities.'
- Notes Essayli referred Newsom’s 'Kristi Noem is going to have a bad day today' post to the Secret Service; the Secret Service said it must investigate any potential threat.
- Includes DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin’s statement calling the law 'despicable' and alleging rising assaults on immigration officers.
- Provides context that the ban responds to recent masked immigration raids in Los Angeles and mentions protests and a federal security deployment that followed.
- Details Newsom’s rationale and quotes at the Los Angeles signing event, including California’s 27% foreign-born population figure and his characterization of masked, unmarked operations.
California bans masks meant to hide law enforcement officers' identities
New information:
- Confirms signing of the 'No Secret Police Act' and frames it as the first of its kind, with Newsom’s rationale and quotes.
- Specifies that California law enforcement agencies must issue mask policies compliant with the law by July 2026.
- Clarifies legal scope: UC Davis’s Raquel Aldana says the mask law does not apply to California state-level law enforcement but does apply to local police and sheriffs; raises state sovereignty questions regarding federal agents.
- ICE declined comment to NPR; agency rationale for masks cited as protection from doxxing and threats.
- Notes similar proposals are being considered in New York and Massachusetts.
- Adds sharper law-enforcement opposition with on-record criticism from Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
Newsom signs bills, including one barring on-duty federal officers from wearing masks in California
New information:
- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 627 into law on Sept. 20, 2025 in Los Angeles; it takes effect Jan. 1.
- The package bars on‑duty federal and local officers, including ICE, from wearing face coverings and requires they be identifiable by name and badge number.
- Companion bills signed include SB 98 and AB 49: schools must notify families when officers arrive; student information and classrooms gain added protections.
- Nonpublic areas of hospitals/ERs are off‑limits to officers without judicial warrants or court orders.
- DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the legislation as "despicable" and dangerous to officers.
- Article cites a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing Los Angeles immigration enforcement stops without reasonable suspicion as context.
California Legislature passes bill banning most law enforcement from wearing face masks
New information:
- Identifies the bill as SB 627 and names it the 'No Secret Police Act'.
- Sponsors named: Democratic state Sens. Scott Wiener (San Francisco) and Jesse Arreguin (Berkeley).
- Includes Senate floor vote tally: 28–11.
- Details statutory language and a fuller list of exemptions (SWAT, approved undercover work, motorcycle helmets, retinal-protection eyewear, N95/surgical masks, breathing apparatus, weather protection, underwater operations).
- Quotes ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons saying he is not a proponent of masks but allows them for agent safety.
- Backers say the law aims to curb police impersonation; notes code phrasing barring 'mask, false whiskers, or any personal disguise' to evade identification.
- Notes that similar legislation is being explored in Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
- Reports a related measure, SB 805 ('No Vigilantes Act'), also passed, requiring visible officer identification (name or badge number).
California legislature passes bill prohibiting law enforcement from wearing face masks to shield identities
New information:
- Bill passed Thursday by the California Legislature; awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature
- Bans most face coverings for on-duty law enforcement, including federal immigration agents
- Exceptions for undercover operations, medical masks (N95), and tactical gear
- Supporters link the move to LA-area immigration raids and a recent Supreme Court ruling they say broadens profiling latitude
- Newsom previously criticized masked arrests but questioned state authority over federal agents; enforcement against feds is unclear
- Described as the first such bill to pass a state legislature; similar proposals introduced in TN, MI, IL, NY, MA, and PA, with a federal proposal by Democrats
- Republicans and law enforcement groups argue the bill increases risk to officers
- Erwin Chemerinsky opines state rules can bind federal employees unless they significantly impede federal duties