Story perspectives

Ninth Circuit Blocks California ID Badge Law for Federal Officers

4/23/2026

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Ninth Circuit Blocks

California’s 2025 ID-badge law, promoted as a public-safety measure, was deemed an unprecedented legislative effort to dictate federal officers’ uniforms.
A unanimous Ninth Circuit panel blocked California’s ID-badge law, pending appeal.
The Justice Department warned the badge rule could expose officers to harassment and violence.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli called the decision a legal victory amid other states’ mask-wear debates.

Right

Ninth Circuit Blocks

Governor Gavin Newsom signed the No Vigilantes Act in September 2025, requiring ICE agents to wear name tags.
A Ninth Circuit panel blocked the law, ruling it violated the Supremacy Clause in California.
Judge Mark Bennett said Section 10 of the Act unlawfully regulated federal law-enforcement.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli called the ruling a huge ICE victory amid California’s anti-ICE protests.

History

Historical Context

California's ID-badge law, enacted in 2025, aimed to regulate federal officers, highlighting ongoing tensions between state and federal authority. The Ninth Circuit's ruling against the law, referencing the Supremacy Clause, echoes historical conflicts like the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, where state laws opposed federal mandates. This legal battle continues to influence debates on immigration enforcement and state rights in California.

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Ninth Circuit Blocks

California’s 2025 ID-badge law, promoted as a public-safety measure, was deemed an unprecedented legislative effort to dictate federal officers’ uniforms.
A unanimous Ninth Circuit panel blocked California’s ID-badge law, pending appeal.
The Justice Department warned the badge rule could expose officers to harassment and violence.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli called the decision a legal victory amid other states’ mask-wear debates.

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