Trump admin throws cold water on ICE masks ban as shutdown talks stall

By Thérèse Boudreaux
The Center Square

Nearly a week into the partial government shutdown, the Trump administration continues to oppose certain immigration enforcement reforms that Democratic lawmakers are demanding in exchange for their votes to reopen the Homeland Security department.

In a social media post Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi lauded a court-ordered pause of California’s mask ban on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, part of the state’s No Secret Police Act.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also granted Thursday a temporary injunction on California’s requirement that every ICE agent display ID, a stipulation in the state’s No Vigilante Act.

“Law enforcement officers risk their lives for us, only to be doxxed by radical anti-police activists. Unacceptable,” Bondi said on X. “This crucial ruling protects our brave men and women in the field. We will not stop fighting bad laws like these in California and across the country.”

The administration’s praise underscores the unlikelihood of Democrats ending the partial shutdown on their own terms.

Democratic leaders in Congress have unrelentingly pushed for any DHS funding deal to incorporate their all-or-nothing list of demands — including a face mask ban and ID requirement mirroring California’s policies.

Demands for greater accountability in DHS erupted after an ICE agent fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti in January, the second killing that month of a U.S. citizen protesting in Minneapolis.

Republicans previously expressed openness to some of the proposed reforms, such as mandating ICE agents wear body cameras, but have labeled most as “ridiculous.”

They have also pointed out that however long the shutdown lasts, ICE operations will feel no impact, unlike other critical DHS services such as disaster support and transportation security.

“Here’s why Democrats’ logic in forcing this partial government shutdown doesn’t hold up,” Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., posted on social media Friday. “If last year taught us anything, it is that shutdowns don’t work and only hurt the American people.”

This is the second time in less than six months that Democrats have forced a shutdown over policy demands, with the most recent centering around health care subsidies.

The record 43-day, full government shutdown from October to November 2025 caused food stamp insecurity, mass flight delays and cancellations, millions of dollars in GDP lost, and withheld paychecks for millions of federal workers.