Justice Department sues Denver over federal officer mask ban

Denver mayor’s office calls mask ban constitutional, will defend in court

The Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit against the city and county of Denver on Thursday, challenging a local ordinance prohibiting federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks during enforcement actions, UPI reported.

Denver officials began developing the federal law enforcement mask ban in the summer of 2025 in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection operations conducted in cities across the country as part of Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement campaign to detain and deport immigrants.

Signed into law in March, the ordinance bars law enforcement officers — including federal officers — from covering their faces during law enforcement actions. It requires that their names, badge numbers, or other identification be visible or provided upon request, and prohibits officers from concealing their identities with facial coverings inside city facilities. Violations are punishable by a fine of up to $999 and up to 300 days in jail.

In its complaint, the Justice Department alleged the ordinance violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution because of the local government’s attempt to regulate the federal government. The federal lawyers further alleged that the law threatens the safety of federal law enforcement officers.

“Even beyond the sovereign injury, compliance with the ordinance would endanger officers and reduce operational effectiveness by, among other things, subjecting them to doxxing, harassment and threats to their physical safety,” the lawsuit states.

“Federal law enforcement officers and agents cannot and will not comply with the ordinance, which is unconstitutional and recklessly disregards officer safety, public safety and federal operational needs.”

A spokesman for Denver Mayor Mike Johnston told The Denver Post that the city would fight the lawsuit.

“Denverites deserve to know who is arresting them and what they’re being arrested for,” Ewing said.

“Banning facial coverings for law enforcement is commonsense and Constitutional, and we look forward to defending our position and the rights or our residents in court.”

The Denver lawsuit follows a similar Justice Department complaint filed a week earlier against a Maryland law prohibiting law enforcement from wearing masks. Under Attorney General Todd Blanche’s direction, the Justice Department has filed lawsuits against nine different jurisdictions.