Ninth Circuit Blocks California Law Requiring ICE Agents to Display Identification

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday sided with the Trump administration and blocked California’s “No Vigilantes Act” provision requiring federal immigration agents to display identification during enforcement operations.

The court held that the statute violates the Supremacy Clause by attempting to directly regulate the United States in the performance of governmental functions. “If a state law directly regulates the governmental conduct of the United States without congressional authorization, it is void irrespective of whether the regulated activities are essential to federal functions or operations,” Judge Mark J. Bennett wrote for the panel. The decision remands the case with instructions to issue a preliminary injunction.

A lower court had previously declined to fully enjoin the ID requirement. California enacted the measure in response to Trump administration immigration enforcement. The Justice Department challenged both the ID rule and a related mask ban.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli called the ruling a “huge win for the Supremacy Clause.” The decision limits state attempts to impose operational requirements on federal officers without congressional authorization.