Immigration officers can still wear masks in California for now, federal judge decides

"A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction Monday, Feb. 9, allowing federal immigration officials to continue wearing masks during California operations, but upheld a law requiring law enforcement to display badges identifying themselves and their agency. U.S. District Judge Christine A. Snyder in Los Angeles granted the Trump administration's request for a temporary order halting enforcement of SB 627, the No Secret Police Act, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law in September amid ongoing waves of federal immigration enforcements across California."

"Both SB 627 and SB 805 went into effect on Jan. 1, but California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office agreed not to enforce either law while the federal government's lawsuit played out. The laws were an attempt by California lawmakers to push back against what critics called abuses during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Lawmakers argue a mask ban would allow for more transparency and accountability, while the U.S. Department of Justice argued the law could lead to federal officers and agents being doxed or harassed. The law makes exceptions for SWAT teams, undercover operations and medically or situationally necessary face coverings."

"In court documents, Snyder said the federal government didn't prove that banning face coverings would impede immigration officers' work. However, the court granted the injunction because the facial covering ban doesn't apply to all law enforcement officers across the state and therefore discriminates against federal law enforcement, according to court documents."

U.S. District Judge Christine A. Snyder issued a preliminary injunction Feb. 9 allowing federal immigration officials to continue wearing masks during California operations while upholding a law requiring law enforcement to display identifying badges. Snyder granted the Trump administration's request to halt enforcement of SB 627 (the No Secret Police Act) but denied the request against SB 805 (the No Vigilantes Act), which requires visible badges for non-uniformed officers. Both laws took effect Jan. 1, but California's attorney general agreed not to enforce them during the federal lawsuit. The laws include exceptions for SWAT, undercover, and medically necessary face coverings. Snyder found the government did not show a mask ban would impede work, but enjoined SB 627 because it did not apply uniformly to all law enforcement and thus discriminated against federal officers.

Read at The Mercury News