NY Moves to Ban Law Enforcement, Including ICE, From Wearing Masks

New York state is set to ban law enforcement officers from wearing masks while on duty, Governor Kathy Hochul said, in a move that is expected to be challenged by the Trump administration.

The announcement came as Hochul, a Democrat, said an agreement had been reached with state lawmakers on New York’s 2027 budget, which includes sweeping changes to immigration policy.

Blake G. Washington, the state budget director, said he expects the legislation to be passed by the Democratic-led legislature as early as next week.

Under the agreement, state law enforcement agencies will be prohibited from cooperating with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on federal immigration enforcement operations. The measures will also bar ICE from entering schools, healthcare facilities, homes and other sensitive locations without a judicial warrant.

“We’re also banning law enforcement officers from wearing masks, except in rare circumstances where there is a genuine operational need, such as a gas mask,” Hochul said.

“No members of state, local or federal law enforcement wear masks during ordinary operations,” she added.

The US Department of Homeland Security, which oversees federal immigration operations, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Other Democratic-led states, including California and New Jersey, have introduced similar measures restricting ICE officers from wearing masks during operations linked to President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies.

The US Department of Justice has challenged those state-level bans in court. A federal judge struck down California’s ban in February, ruling that it “unlawfully discriminates against federal officers.”

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