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New Jersey Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill has signed legislation requiring law enforcement officers to show their faces during certain public interactions and identify themselves before making arrests or detentions, prompting opposition from federal immigration authorities.
The governor approved the measure on Wednesday as part of a broader package of bills her office said is aimed at protecting constitutional rights and public safety.
In a statement, Sherrill said the legislation includes provisions “banning ICE agents from wearing masks” and strengthening privacy protections for residents.
One of the new laws requires officers to “reveal facial identity during certain public interactions” and to present identification before making arrests or detentions, according to Reuters.
The move has drawn a sharp response from the Department of Homeland Security, which said federal immigration officers would not comply. A DHS spokesperson told NBC10 that agents “will not abide by this unconstitutional ban,” arguing that federal authority overrides the state law under the Constitution’s supremacy clause.
The spokesperson said immigration officers use face coverings as a safety measure to protect themselves and their families from threats, citing increases in assaults, vehicular attacks and death threats against agents.
Supporters of the law say it is intended to promote transparency and accountability in law enforcement, while critics argue it could interfere with federal immigration operations. The dispute reflects ongoing tensions between the federal government and several states over immigration enforcement practices, including the use of masks by federal agents.
DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have said face coverings are necessary to prevent officers from being identified and targeted, including through doxing.
The Justice Department has already challenged similar state actions. It sued California last year over a comparable law restricting masked federal officers and filed a lawsuit against New Jersey in February over a separate executive order that limited federal immigration activity on certain state properties.
The latest law is expected to face legal challenges as federal and state authorities continue to dispute the scope of their respective powers over immigration enforcement.
