A federal judge on Monday blocked key portions of a New York law that would have prohibited federal immigration agents from wearing masks and required them to display visible identification while carrying out their duties.U.S.District Judge Mae D'Agostino of the Northern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction preventing the state from enforcing the two provisions while a legal challenge to the law continues to move forward.In her ruling, D'Agostino found the challenged provisions were likely unconstitutional because they interfere with federal law enforcement operations, including those carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP).FIRST ON FOX: DOJ SUES SPANBERGER’S VIRGINIA OVER LAWS KNEECAPPING FEDERAL AGENTS AS MASK WAR ESCALATESFILE - Federal immigration agents may continue wearing masks while on duty after a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of a New York law.(AP Photo/Ryan Murphy, File)The judge said only the federal government has the authority to establish policies governing federal law enforcement operations.
Therefore, New York cannot dictate how federal agents perform their official duties."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 ruling stated.Gov.Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James criticized the court's decision to block the mask ban, saying they are currently reviewing more legal options.DEM GOVERNOR IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TESTING LIMITS OF AUTHORITY WITH MAJOR MOVE AGAINST ICEFILE - U.S.
District Judge Mae D'Agostino ruled New York likely exceeded its authority by trying to regulate how ICE, the FBI, DEA and CBP agents carry out federal law enforcement duties.(Will Waldron/Albany Times Union)"While the court enjoined enforcement of New York’s mask ...