California mask ban for federal officers prompts US to sue state — and its leaders

The U.S. Department of Justice sued the state of California, its governor and attorney general on Monday, challenging what the DOJ claims is an “unconstitutional” attempt to impede federal law enforcement by imposing a mask ban and identification requirement on officers.

In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed laws making California the first state in the nation to prohibit federal law enforcement, including agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, from hiding their identities, and requiring non-uniformed federal law enforcement to visibly display identification information, including agency, name, or badge number during enforcement duties.

Both laws take effect Jan. 1.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles federal court, alleges that the No Secret Police Act and the No Vigilantes Act threaten the safety of officers facing harassment, doxing and violence while carrying out enforcement duties. The DOJ also contends the laws violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, under which states have no power to control the operations of the federal government.

“Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe, and they do not deserve to be doxed or harassed simply for carrying out their duties,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. “California’s anti-law enforcement policies discriminate against the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents. These laws cannot stand.”

The complaint states that the federal government does not intend to comply with the challenged laws.

“Assaults against federal agents have exploded over the last few months, thanks in part to recklessness (reckless) political rhetoric aiming to delegitimize our brave agents,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California said.

“Unconstitutional laws such as this one further endanger our brave men and women protecting our community. Our immigration enforcement will continue unabated and unhindered by unconstitutional state laws enacted by irresponsible politicians.”