The Trump administration’s Justice Department is challenging several state laws passed by Virginia Democrats targeting the work of federal immigration enforcement officers.
The complaint, filed in the Eastern District of Virginia’s Richmond Division, challenges state laws that seek to ban federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks and restrict 287(g) agreements between federal immigration enforcement and state and local law enforcement agencies.
The Justice Department argues the face mask ban illegally attempts to regulate the federal government and threatens federal officers with prosecution for concealing their identities.
“Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe, and they do not deserve to be doxed or harassed simply for carrying out their duties,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a release. “Virginia’s anti-law enforcement policies regulate the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents. These laws cannot stand.”
The Commonwealth of Virginia, Attorney General Jay Jones and Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano were named as defendants in the lawsuit. Jones said his office is reviewing the lawsuit.
