U.S. Department of Justice sues Denver over law enforcement mask ban

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the city of Denver and Mayor Mike Johnston, challenging a local ordinance that bans law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings during arrests or detentions. The law, which was unanimously approved by the City Council, also requires officers to display visible identification.

The federal government argues that the ordinance violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, asserting that local governments lack the authority to regulate federal law enforcement operations. The DOJ claims the ban threatens the safety of federal officers, such as those from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who may face increased risks of harassment, doxxing, and violence if they cannot protect their identities.

Denver officials have stated they will defend the law in court, maintaining that the ordinance is “commonsense and Constitutional.” A spokesperson for the Mayor noted that Denver residents deserve to know the identity of the officers arresting them. The city designed the law to apply to all levels of law enforcement to avoid legal precedents where similar bans were struck down for specifically targeting federal agents.