Justice Department sues Maryland over state bans on federal agents wearing masks

The Justice Department sued Maryland, its attorney general, the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission and Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, alleging that state laws banning federal law-enforcement officers from wearing masks and demanding ID infringe the Supremacy Clause. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate said the statutes threaten officer safety amid a surge of harassment, doxing and violence.

The legislation, passed after a winter of high-profile federal immigration raids, aims to increase transparency of federal agents. Maryland House Speaker Joseline Pena-Melnyk affirmed the state will defend the measures, citing public safety and accountability. Montgomery County councilmember William Jawando also vowed to protect the county’s Unmask ICE Act, arguing residents deserve to know who is acting under government authority. The case marks the eighth such federal suit against a state over similar mask-ban laws.