Federal judge blocks California from enforcing ICE mask ban | ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
A federal judge on Monday blocked a California law from taking effect that would ban federal immigration officers from covering their faces, but they would still be required to wear clear identification that identifies their agency and badge number.
California became the first state to ban most law enforcement officers from wearing face masks under a bill signed in September following high-profile raids by ICE officers in Los Angeles over the summer.
The Trump administration filed a lawsuit challenging the laws in November; He argued that these laws would threaten the safety of officers who were subjected to harassment, doxxing and violence, and that they violated the constitution because the state directly regulates the federal government.
Judge Christina Snyder said she issued the initial ruling because the mask mandate, as enacted, does not apply to state law enforcement and discriminates against the federal government. The decision could have national ramifications as states grapple with how to deal with federal agents enforcing the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Snyder wrote that “the court found that federal officers can perform their federal duties without wearing masks,” leaving open the possibility that future laws prohibiting federal agents from wearing masks would apply to all law enforcement. The decision will come into force on February 19.
