A federal judge just handed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul a major legal defeat — blocking her attempt to force ICE agents to unmask while carrying out deportation operations in the state.
U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino of the Northern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction Monday preventing enforcement of two key provisions of the state’s anti-ICE law. The law had prohibited federal immigration agents from wearing masks and required them to display visible identification during operations.
“New York cannot impose its own uniform requirements on federal agents simply because it disagrees with how the Federal Government is exercising its authority.”
D’Agostino ruled 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).
The judge was clear: only the federal government has the authority to establish policies governing federal law enforcement operations. New York can’t dictate how federal agents perform their official duties.
Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a joint statement criticizing the ruling, claiming they’re “reviewing all legal options.”
“While the court enjoined enforcement of New York’s mask ban, we stand firm in our belief that masked agents do not make New York safer and our offices are reviewing all legal options at this time,” the pair said.
D’Agostino did allow one portion of the law to stand — a provision barring New York local law enforcement agencies from performing certain federal immigration enforcement functions under 287(g) agreements.
The judge said participation by state and local agencies in federal civil immigration enforcement is voluntary under federal law.
Hochul and James celebrated that portion of the ruling, arguing New York taxpayers shouldn’t fund local cooperation with ICE.
“As we have said from the start, New York’s ban on 287(g) agreements is legal and will keep our communities safe. Local law enforcement should be focused on local matters, and New York taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for any collaboration with ICE,” their statement read.
The case is part of a broader legal clash between Democratic-led states and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement. The Justice Department has already sued Virginia over similar anti-ICE mask laws.
