Bondi Claims Win In Ice Mask Ban Fight — But Court Ruled On Different California Case

U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi declared a triumph against California connected Friday, touting an appellate tribunal ruling that she said blocked a authorities prohibition connected migration agents and different rule enforcement officers wearing masks.

“The 9th Circuit has now issued a FULL enactment blocking California’s prohibition connected masks for national rule enforcement agents,” Bondi posted connected nan societal media tract X, calling nan Feb. 19 determination a “key victory.”

Bondi, however, appeared confused astir which lawsuit nan tribunal was ruling connected this week.

A national judge successful Los Angeles blocked California’s first-in-the-nation disguise prohibition 10 days earlier, connected Feb. 9.

At nan time, U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder said she was “constrained” to artifact nan rule because it included only section and national officers, while exempting authorities rule enforcement.

The authorities did not entreaty that decision.

Instead, connected Wednesday, nan law’s writer Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced a caller disguise measure without nan problematic carve-out for authorities officers.

With nan first ineligible situation already decided and nan caller measure still pending successful nan legislature, nan 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has nary logic to revisit nan disguise ban.

The ruling that Bondi appeared to reference involves a abstracted California rule requiring rule enforcement officers to show recognition while connected duty.

Snyder had antecedently ruled nan “No Vigilantes Act” could return effect because it did not exempt authorities police, a determination nan DOJ appealed to nan 9th Circuit.

The appellate tribunal is group to reappraisal nan matter early adjacent month. Until then, nan tribunal issued an injunction that pauses nan authorities rule from taking effect.

Issuing a impermanent administrative injunction is simply a communal procedural move, allowing judges to frost things successful nan position quo until nan tribunal has a chance to measurement nan rule and travel to a decision.

Thursday’s bid group a proceeding successful nan Richard H. Chambers U.S. Court of Appeals successful Pasadena for March 3, indicating nan lawsuit is acold from over.

Bill Essayli, who leads nan U.S. attorney’s agency successful Los Angeles, besides celebrated pinch a station connected X, calling Thursday’s bid “another cardinal triumph for nan Justice Department.” He excessively suggested nan injunction someway progressive nan disguise case.

A spokesperson for nan U.S. Justice Department did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

The rule requiring officers to show ID is little arguable than nan disguise ban. But it whitethorn still look an uphill conflict successful nan appellate court. A three-judge sheet is group to perceive nan case, including 2 judges nominated to nan chair by President Trump and 1 by President Obama. One of nan Trump appointees, Judge Mark Bennett of Hawaii, has antecedently signaled skepticism complete nan administration’s migration enforcement policies.

At rumor successful nan ID lawsuit is whether California’s rule interferes pinch aliases controls nan operations of nan national government, actions prohibited by nan supremacy clause of nan U.S. Constitution. Snyder ruled that nan recognition rule was much akin to velocity limits connected nan highway, which use arsenic to everyone, a determination nan appellate tribunal could reject.

A ruling is not expected earlier mid-March, and would not impact nan push by authorities lawmakers to walk a revised disguise ban.

Recent polls show much than 60% of Americans want U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and different national agents unmasked. More than a twelve states are pursuing laws akin to California’s.

In Washington, legislature Democrats person made a disguise prohibition for ICE a cardinal rumor successful nan ongoing partial authorities shutdown, vowing not to money nan Department of Homeland Security until 1 is enacted.

Legal experts person said nan rumor apt will not beryllium resolved until it reaches nan Supreme Court.