Philadelphia Can’t Force ICE Agents to Unmask, Federal Judge Rules

U.S. District Judge Chad F. Kenney blocked Philadelphia from enforcing a new city ordinance that barred federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks, covering their badges, or using unmarked vehicles, ruling that the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause prevents a city from dictating how federal agencies carry out their duties. City Council had passed the mask ban with a veto-proof supermajority as part of a seven-bill package responding to ICE operations in the city. The six other bills — including bans on immigration raids on city-owned property and on most city information-sharing with ICE — were signed by Mayor Cherelle Parker and took effect the following week.