DHS Responds to Newsom’s Mask Ban for ICE Agents

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced it will not adhere to a mask ban imposed on immigration and customs enforcement agents by California Governor Gavin Newsom (D).

Newsom’s recent legislation includes measures that hinder the federal government’s ability to deport undocumented immigrants in California. One such measure mandates that school officials inform parents and students if there’s a federal agency operating near the school.

“I have instructed federal agencies not to comply with this law,” said DHS Public Service Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement.

“Let me be clear: I will not follow Gavin Newsom’s unconstitutional mask ban,” the statement continued. McLaughlin pointed out that ICE officers are experiencing a dramatic rise in assaults, stating that the governor’s actions undermine essential protections for law enforcement.

Bill Essayri, a representative and attorney in California’s Central District, echoed this sentiment by rejecting the mask ban.

“California has no legal authority over the federal government,” he mentioned on social media. “If Newsom wants to regulate our agents, he needs to go through Congress. I won’t let his laws interfere with our operations.” He also raised a question about the likelihood of mask bans affecting groups involved in criminal activity.

Meanwhile, California Democrats are pushing for similar laws in other states, including Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.

Aside from the mask ban, additional bills passed by California Democrats aim to protect patient immigration information, prohibiting healthcare professionals from disclosing such information without proper legal orders.