Richmond, Virginia — A federal judge blocked Virginia from enforcing a new law that would have barred ICE officers from wearing masks while performing official duties, issuing the order hours before the measure was set to take effect.
Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Payne granted the Justice Department’s request for a preliminary injunction while the Trump administration’s lawsuit continues. The judge found the federal government is likely to succeed on its claim that Virginia cannot regulate how federal officers carry out immigration enforcement under the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and intergovernmental immunity doctrine.
The law, signed by Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger, required law enforcement officers to keep their faces visible and display identification while on duty. Supporters said the measure promoted transparency and accountability after public concern over masked federal agents. Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones said his office disagrees with the ruling and will continue defending the law.
The Justice Department argued the measure interfered with federal operations and put officers at risk of harassment or doxing. Similar legal fights are unfolding in other states that have tried to restrict masked federal agents.
Payne’s order applies only to Virginia’s mask and identification law, not a separate challenge involving state limits on local cooperation with immigration authorities.
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