New York’s ICE mask ban is the latest blue-state loss in court

Published August 4, 2026 11:38am ET | Updated August 4, 2026 11:47am ET



A federal judge on Monday ruled New York cannot prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement from wearing face masks.

U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino in the Northern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction ruling that the Constitution’s supremacy clause does not permit the state to regulate federal law enforcement activities. The ruling, which swiftly sparked backlash from New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other officials, blocks a measure Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) signed into law in May that banned federal agents from wearing face coverings and required that they wear visible identification.

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