New York Moves to Ban Masked Law Enforcement During Immigration Operations

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans to prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing masks while on duty, a move expected to spark legal challenges from the Trump administration. The proposal is part of a broader immigration policy package included in New York’s 2027 state budget agreement reached with Democratic lawmakers.

Hochul said the new policy would prevent state, local, and federal law enforcement officers from concealing their identities during routine operations, except in limited emergency situations such as the use of protective gas masks. The governor emphasized that transparency and accountability in policing are central to the measure.

The budget deal also introduces major restrictions on cooperation between New York law enforcement agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Under the agreement, state agencies will be barred from assisting ICE with federal immigration enforcement activities. In addition, ICE officers will be prohibited from entering schools, healthcare facilities, private homes, and other sensitive locations without obtaining a judicial warrant.

State Budget Director Blake G. Washington said lawmakers are expected to pass the legislation as early as next week in the Democrat-controlled legislature.

The proposed mask ban mirrors similar immigration-related policies introduced in Democratic-led states such as California and New Jersey. Those measures have already faced opposition from the U.S. Justice Department, which filed lawsuits arguing the restrictions unlawfully interfere with federal immigration enforcement.

In February, a federal judge struck down California’s law banning masked federal officers, ruling that the state discriminated against federal agents. Legal experts expect New York’s proposal to face similar court challenges as tensions continue between Democratic states and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement policies.