Federal judge blocks California from enforcing ICE mask ban

Judge rules that law discriminates against federal government because it does not apply to state authorities

A federal judge on Monday blocked a California law from going into effect that would ban federal immigration agents from covering their faces, but they will still be required to wear clear identification showing their agency and badge number.

California became the first state to ban most law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings under a bill that was signed by Gavin Newsom the governor, in September, following last summer's high-profile raids by ICE officers in Los Angeles.