The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a California law requiring federal immigration agents to display identification while on duty.
The ruling, issued on Wednesday, found that the law attempted to directly regulate the federal government, violating the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.
Judge Mark J. Bennett, writing for the court, stated that the law overstepped by dictating how federal officers should identify themselves, which is a federal prerogative. The Department of Justice challenged the law soon after its passage last fall, alongside a related measure that would have banned masks for federal agents. Both laws were responses to public anger over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
The case was initially heard in Los Angeles in January, where U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder upheld the ID requirement but blocked the mask ban. However, the 9th Circuit’s decision now nullifies the ID law, siding with the Trump administration’s argument that the law infringed on federal authority.
California Deputy Solicitor General Mica Moore had argued that the law was necessary for public safety, as unidentified agents posed a risk to civilians. However, the court found that the law applied exclusively to law enforcement officers, thus overstepping state authority.
The ruling comes as over a dozen other states consider similar mask laws, potentially leading to a patchwork of legal standards across the country. The Guardian reported that the Trump administration had argued the law endangered officers by exposing them to harassment and violence.
Bill Essayli, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District, celebrated the decision as a “huge legal victory” on X. The ruling underscores the ongoing tension between state and federal powers, particularly in areas of immigration and law enforcement.
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