By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A federal appeals court blocked a California law that would have required federal law enforcement officers to visibly wear identification while conducting operations.
• The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an injunction pending appeal, halting enforcement of the statute.
• The U.S. Department of Justice challenged the law, saying it interferes with federal operations and violates the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.
• The case stemmed from California’s attempt to regulate identification requirements for federal officers during immigration enforcement.
LOS ANGELES, CA — A federal appeals court on Wednesday blocked enforcement of a California law that would have required certain federal law enforcement officers to visibly display identification while carrying out official duties, officials said.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit granted an injunction pending appeal, preventing the law from taking effect while legal challenges continue.
The law, part of California’s “No Vigilantes Act” enacted in 2025, sought to mandate that non-uniformed federal agents, including immigration enforcement personnel, display visible badges or identification during operations.
The U.S. Department of Justice sued California in November, asserting that the statute unlawfully attempted to regulate the operations of federal officers and violated the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause.
In its ruling, the appeals court said the state law likely imposed conditions on federal functions beyond state authority and blocked enforcement while the case moves through the legal process.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office and the California Attorney General’s office said they are reviewing the appeals court order and considering next steps in response to the decision.