OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A bill that prohibits federal immigration agents from masking their faces was signed into law on Thursday, March 19.

The new measure in our state restricts facial coverings for all federal, state and local law enforcement officers while interacting with the public, with some exceptions.

It includes no specific penalties, but it allows people detained by masked officers to sue them.

The proposal pushes back against President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics in which federal agents, some wearing masks, have swept up thousands of people for potential deportation.

That has stirred criticism that the masks free agents to act aggressively with impunity.

Gov. Ferguson said that all officers must be held accountable for their conduct.

“As an American, I never thought I would see federal agents in masks jumping out of unmarked cars and grabbing people off our streets,” Gov. Ferguson said. “This conduct will undoubtedly be remembered as a shameful period in our history.”

The Department of Homeland Security denounced the new state measure as “irresponsible, reckless and dangerous.”

Ahead of the Governor’s signature, he noted some communities around the state that have been closely following this bill and similar legislation:

“I think this is the first bill signing I’ve been a part of where we actually have watch parties going on around the state. So, I know in Bellingham and in Spokane we have a large group of community leaders elected officials and many others who have joined in those communities who have joined to watch these proceedings.”

Gov. Ferguson also signed into law a bill that makes impersonating a federal or other law enforcement officer a felony.