Signal Federal Judge Blocks New York's ICE Mask Ban Law on Supremacy Clause Grounds

Summary

U.S. District Court Judge Mae A. D'Agostino issued a preliminary injunction blocking New York from enforcing a state law that required federal ICE agents to remove face coverings and display identification, Gothamist reported. In a 51-page ruling, D'Agostino found the statewide mask ban violates the Constitution's Supremacy Clause because it improperly regulates federal law enforcement activity, writing that 'New York cannot impose its own uniform requirements on federal agents simply because it disagrees with how the federal government is exercising its authority.' The Trump administration had argued the law violated the Supremacy Clause and interfered with federal immigration enforcement. The ruling was not entirely unfavorable to New York, however: D'Agostino upheld a separate provision banning state and local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE through 287(g) agreements. Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James welcomed the portion of the ruling preserving the cooperation ban while saying they are reviewing legal options to challenge the blocked mask and identification requirements.