The Justice Department is asking a federal court to block two Virginia laws, set to take effect July 1, that would bar federal officers from wearing face coverings on duty, require them to display individual identifiers, and sharply curtail local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

The complaint, filed Thursday in federal court, names the Commonwealth of Virginia, Democrat Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, and Fairfax County Commonwealth’s attorney Steve Descano as defendants, and casts the measures as an unconstitutional state effort to dictate how federal agents do their jobs.

At issue are Virginia Code Sections 19.2-83.6:1 and 15.2-1726.1, enacted this year by the Democratic-led legislature and signed by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, also a Democrat.

The mask provision exposes federal officers who cover their faces during enforcement operations to a Class 1 misdemeanor under state law.

The second law unwinds the 287(g) partnerships that let Virginia sheriffs and police help ICE identify and detain immigrants in local jails, and blocks new ones from being signed.

The Justice Department argues both provisions run headlong into the Supremacy Clause, and that the contract restrictions also violate the Contracts Clause by voiding existing agreements.

More here

Tagged: Breaking News BACK TO HOMEPAGE