Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell says his department won't enforce a ban on federal agents wearing masks during immigration operations, which California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law last year.

The law bans face coverings like neck gaiters and ski masks for ICE agents and other federal law enforcement authorities operating in the Golden State. It does allow coverings for people with medical conditions, or SWAT members. 

McDonnell told reporters at a news conference on the ban Thursday that he disagreed with the policies, and cited the possibility of conflict between police and the federal agencies if it were to be enforced, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.

“The reality of one armed agency approaching another armed agency to create conflict over something that would be a misdemeanor at best or an infraction, it doesn’t make any sense," McDonnell said. "It’s not a good public policy decision and it wasn’t well thought out in my opinion.

“You look across the country, you see the things that are happening," he continued. "We are in line with our federal partners on everything except immigration enforcement. What we’ve seen since June here in Los Angeles and seen across the country, we’re as frustrated as everybody else about the way that’s being done."

The chief emphasized the importance of immigrant communities in Los Angeles and expressed hope that the federal government would come up with different tactics in its crackdown on illegal immigration. 

The law went into effect on Jan. 1, but is not being enforced after the Justice Department mounted a challenge to its constitutionality, over the security risks it poses to agents. 

The Department of Homeland Security has also said it won't comply with the state law.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.