Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli responded to a law passed in California that seeks to ban federal law enforcement agents — specifically Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents — from wearing masks that cover their faces while they are working in California.

Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), earlier in the week, touted his “first in the nation” law that he said would force ICE agents to “unmask” despite the exponential increase in threats and attacks on ICE agents in recent months.

“Enough! ICE, unmask! What are you afraid of?” Newsom asked at a press conference. “What are you afraid of?”

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The Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security begged to differ, saying in a statement on Monday that ICE agents would not be complying with Newsom’s law and citing the increased risks of threats against them and their families.

“To be clear: We will NOT comply with Gavin Newsom’s unconstitutional mask ban. At a time that ICE law enforcement faces a 1,000% increase in assaults and their family members are being doxxed and targeted, the sitting Governor of California signed unconstitutional legislation that strips law enforcement of protections in a disgusting, diabolical fundraising and PR stunt,” she said.

To be clear: We will NOT comply with Gavin Newsom’s unconstitutional mask ban.

At a time that ICE law enforcement faces a 1,000% increase in assaults and their family members are being doxxed and targeted, the sitting Governor of California signed unconstitutional legislation… pic.twitter.com/8Me4OOP8t8

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 22, 2025

Essayli followed on Friday with a letter — addressed to federal law enforcement heads in the Central District of California — in which he stated that Newsom, as governor of California, did not have the authority to direct the actions of federal law enforcement agents, even if they were operating within his state.

Governor Newsom is confused about his role under the U.S. Constitution. He oversees California, not federal agencies. He should review the Supremacy Clause.

California’s law to “unmask” federal agents is unconstitutional, as the state lacks jurisdiction to interfere with federal… pic.twitter.com/9ZWlFRxHMi

— Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) September 26, 2025

“Governor Newsom is confused about his role under the U.S. Constitution. He oversees California, not federal agencies. He should review the Supremacy Clause. California’s law to ‘unmask’ federal agents is unconstitutional, as the state lacks jurisdiction to interfere with federal law enforcement. I have directed federal agencies to disregard this state law and adhere to federal law and agency policies,” Essayli said.

Dramatic surveillance video taken outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility during a sniper attack on Wednesday showed federal agents ushering illegal immigrant detainees out of a van and further into the building as bullets rained down on them.

Detainees, who were shackled by the wrists and ankles, were moved swiftly down a hallway by ICE agents while Joshua Jahn, 29, fired his gun indiscriminately into the facility, killing one of the detainees, according to video obtained by Fox News. Two other detainees were injured in the attack, and the shooter himself died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

While no ICE agents were injured or killed, Jahn intended to shoot them and inflict “terror” on them, authorities said.

Jahn left chilling notes where he wrote that said ICE agents are merely working “to collect a dirty paycheck” and that he “intended to maximize lethality against” them and “to maximize property damage at the facility,” Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson said during a press conference Thursday.

He also hoped “to minimize any collateral damage or injury to the detainees and any other innocent people.”

LINE OF FIRE: ICE agents seen shielding migrant detainees at the Dallas facility during shooting in surveillance footage obtained by Fox News. pic.twitter.com/mRbYNg1a5p

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 26, 2025

Marcos Charles, ICE acting executive associate director for enforcement and removal operations, called out anyone who maligns agents, tagging the ones who responded to Wednesday’s shooting as heroes for putting their lives on the line to save detainees.

“The evidence is clear that this was an intended assault on ICE personnel who come to work every day to do their job,” Charles said during Thursday’s press conference.

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“Those ICE officers just showed the world who they really are: law enforcement officers who want the best for our country, that’s ICE integrity, courage, excellence. They were willing to put their lives on the line to pull detainees out of the transport van to get them to safety. They are heroes, and I hope the media has the integrity to shine a light on this story. Enough is enough with the harmful lies and rhetoric, and it has to stop,” he added.

Amid a string of left-wing violence against law enforcement and conservative voices, President Donald Trump called on Democrats to stop demonizing law enforcement.