DOJ and New York sue over state limits on federal agents

The federal government and the State of New York filed competing lawsuits on Monday, June 22, 2026, setting up a legal battle over new state laws that restrict federal law enforcement operations. The U.S. Department of Justice sued to block the measures, arguing they are unconstitutional, while New York officials filed a preemptive suit seeking a declaration that the laws are valid.

The dispute centers on provisions passed as part of New York’s state budget and signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in late May. One key provision, often called the Face Covering Act, prohibits law enforcement officers, including federal agents from agencies like ICE, the FBI, and the DEA, from wearing masks or other face coverings that obscure their identity while interacting with the public. It also requires officers to display clear identification. This measure is scheduled to take effect on Friday, June 26, 2026. A first violation is punishable as an infraction, with subsequent violations potentially charged as misdemeanors carrying jail time.

A second major provision, the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, prohibits state and local police from assisting federal immigration enforcement and orders the...