Federal judge blocks Philadelphia’s mask ban targeting ICE officers
DOJ sues Virginia over anti-ICE policies as key counterterrorism tool nears expiration
The Justice Department files a lawsuit against Virginia over new anti-ICE policies, including a controversial mask ban on federal agents. Acting AG Todd Blanche argues that these laws endanger federal officers. Simultaneously, we face the expiration tonight of FISA, an important counterterrorism tool, due to congressional inaction that raises national security concerns. Shannon Bream and Jim Jordan analyze the political stalemate and its implications.
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A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked Philadelphia from enforcing a law against federal officers that restricts law enforcement’s use of masks, concealed IDs and unmarked vehicles.
U.S. District Judge Chad Kenney issued a preliminary injunction blocking Philadelphia from enforcing the mask mandate and other restrictions on federal officers that go into effect Tuesday.
The judge ruled that the city could not determine how federal officers conduct operations, siding with the Justice Department, which filed the lawsuit last month and argued that the measure was a “manifestly unconstitutional” attempt to regulate federal agents.
“When the Philadelphia City Council voted to pass Bill 260060… it sought to evade the clear instruction of the Constitution and ignored this fundamental legal principle that has informed American jurisprudence for more than 200 years,” Kenney said, referring to the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which establishes that federal law prevails over state and local law in cases of conflict. he wrote.
DOJ INCREASES BLUE STATE ICE SETTLEMENT AFTER STATES REJECT FEDERAL REQUEST
A federal judge temporarily blocked a Philadelphia law banning federal officers from wearing masks while on duty. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Approving the City of Philadelphia’s position means municipalities can decide whether to pass their own laws regulating how, when, where and whether federal law enforcement can conceal their identities,” he added.
Philadelphia’s mask ban on federal officers was approved earlier this year as part of a larger legislative package passed by the City Council amid a national debate over masked immigration agents conducting raids targeting immigrants in communities across the country; Some of these agents have been documented shooting people, including two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis in January.
The measure applied to local, state and federal law enforcement, but Thursday’s injunction prevented Philadelphia from enforcing it against federal officers. The statute would prohibit veiled officers from wearing masks or protecting their identities while on duty and interacting with the public, with exceptions including medical masks, religious veils, certain tactical equipment and hazardous conditions. They will also be required to wear visible badges and drive marked vehicles in certain situations.
The statute would prohibit federal officers from wearing masks or hiding their identities. They will also be required to wear visible badges and drive marked vehicles.
According to the regulation, civil servants may be subject to legal and criminal sanctions.
“Such direct regulation of the federal government by a municipality is clearly impermissible,” Kenney wrote.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, a Democrat, refused to sign the bill, saying the city attorney’s office had informed her it posed significant legal issues.
The judge ruled that the city cannot determine how federal officers conduct operations. (Getty Images)
Kenney wrote that Parker “acted with civic wisdom and courage to defend the Constitution and pursue the rule of law” by not signing the measure.
But the bill was not vetoed and became law in May after Parker allowed it to take effect without his signature.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the city for comment on Thursday’s decision.
The Justice Department praised the court’s ruling in a statement to Reuters, saying the department “will continue to combat jurisdictions that seek to obstruct President Trump’s immigration enforcement with policies that endanger agents and public safety.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Justice for comment.
MINNESOTA SENATE VOTE TO BAN MASK WEARING AND ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SUIT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS
The Justice Department sued, arguing the measure was a “manifestly unconstitutional” attempt to regulate federal agents. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy, File)
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This is the latest in an ongoing series of legal battles between the Trump administration and state and local governments seeking to impose mask mandates or ID requirements affecting federal officials.
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a new law in Virginia banning federal law enforcement from wearing masks.
In February, a federal judge halted a California law banning federal officers from wearing masks while on duty.
The Justice Department also sued New Jersey to block a similar mask ban targeting federal officers.
Reuters contributed to this report.
