NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge ruled on Monday that New York cannot prohibit federal agents from wearing masks or mandate that they display visible identification.
This decision follows a similar ruling earlier this year, where another federal judge blocked a comparable law in California. This California law was introduced after the Trump administration sought to increase immigration arrests aggressively.
U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino, presiding over the Northern District of New York, noted that although New York aims for transparency in policing, the court’s focus is different.
“The issue now before the Court is about constitutionality—not transparency or preferable policy decisions,” she explained.
The federal government argued that the measures likely violate the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prevents states from regulating federal law enforcement, as D’Agostino pointed out.
These measures were part of a series of law enforcement policies included in the state budget bill, which was signed into law by Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul in May.
In response to the judge’s ruling, Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a statement asserting their belief that masked agents do not enhance New York’s safety and that they are evaluating all legal options.
According to the ruling, New York’s rules on face coverings and identification became effective in June.
AP Photo/Olga Fedorova, File
California was the first state to prohibit most law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings, following the signing of a bill in September after a series of notable raids by immigration officers in Los Angeles.
The blocking of this law was anticipated to impact other states that have considered similar restrictions on immigration agents.
In May, the U.S. Department of Justice initiated a federal lawsuit against Connecticut over a new state law that bans federal agents from wearing masks.
