NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge ruled on Monday that New York cannot prevent federal agents from wearing face coverings or mandate that they display visible identification.
This decision follows a previous ruling by another federal judge earlier this year, which blocked a similar law in California. The California law had been introduced after the Trump administration intensified efforts to increase immigration arrests.
US District Judge Mae D’Agostino of the Northern District of New York stated that although New York’s efforts for more transparent policing seem well-meaning, the court’s focus is on constitutional matters, not policy preferences.
D’Agostino emphasized that the issue at hand is the constitutionality of these measures, not their transparency or desirability as policy. She noted that the federal government has demonstrated a strong likelihood that the measures violate the supremacy clause of the US Constitution, which prohibits states from regulating federal law enforcement.
These measures were included in a series of law enforcement policies within the state budget bill, signed into law by Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul in May.
In response to the judge’s decision, Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James asserted that they remain convinced that masked agents do not enhance New York’s safety and that they are considering all legal options.
The measures regarding face coverings and identification became effective in New York in June, as noted in the ruling.
California was the first state to implement a ban on most law enforcement officers wearing facial coverings. This legislation was signed in September following a summer of prominent raids by immigration officers in Los Angeles.
The blocking of this law was expected to have nationwide implications, affecting other states that have attempted to impose similar restrictions on immigration agents.
In May, the US Department of Justice initiated a federal lawsuit against Connecticut over a new state law that bans federal agents from wearing masks.
