A federal judge on Monday blocked a California law that would have banned federal immigration agents from wearing masks, ruling that it discriminated against the federal government because it did not apply to state authorities. The law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September, was the first of its kind in the US, following high-profile raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Los Angeles.
The Trump administration sued in November, arguing that the ban threatened officer safety amid harassment and violence. The Department of Justice claimed the law violated the constitution by directly regulating the federal government. Judge Christina Snyder agreed, noting that the ban did not apply to state and local law enforcement, thus discriminating against federal agents.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi hailed the ruling as a “key court victory,” stating that federal agents are “attacked on a regular basis just for doing their jobs.” California state Senator Scott Weiner, who proposed the original bill, said he would introduce new legislation to include state police, stating: “ICE and Border Patrol are covering their faces to maximize their terror campaign.”
Judge Snyder allowed a separate law to stand, requiring both state and federal officers to display identification. Governor Newsom’s office called this a “clear win for the rule of law.” The rulings could have national implications, as states like Massachusetts and New York consider similar mask bans for federal agents.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta criticised the administration for deploying “masked and unidentified agents,” but commended the identification ruling, saying “transparency and accountability are the foundation of good law enforcement.” Snyder stayed her ruling until 19 February, delaying the identification law’s enforcement.
