California ID Law Overturned by Appeals Court

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decided that a California law requiring federal agents and other police officers to display their identification while on duty was unconstitutional. The judge explained that the law tries to control how the federal government operates, which the U. S. Constitution forbids. California passed the law after people were upset with how the Trump administration enforced immigration rules. The state also tried to ban masks for federal agents and local police, but that part of the law was struck down. The Department of Justice challenged both laws soon after they were signed. The case went to a Los Angeles courtroom in January, following the death of a woman named Renee Good after an ICE agent shot her. By February, another federal officer had killed Alex Pretti. Judge Christina Snyder allowed the ID requirement to stay in place because it did not heavily affect federal officers. She said the rule was only a small impact, like speed limits on highways.The Trump administration appealed Snyder’s decision and won an initial pause on the law while it was reviewed. In March, judges argued that California was telling federal officers how to dress and act, which is beyond the state’s power. The appellate panel agreed with that view. They said the law only applies to police and federal agents, not ordinary citizens. The judge wrote that such a rule is not something any person could follow. The ruling supports the Trump administration’s stance against state laws that challenge federal immigration policies. A U. S. attorney praised the decision as a major win for the administration. The court’s decision comes at a time when many states are considering similar mask rules for federal agents. California officials had warned that masked, armed officers could be dangerous to the public. The court did not share those concerns.