LA County votes to ban masks for ICE officers

(The Center Square) – Los Angeles County moved closer Tuesday to join the state of California in banning masks for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. But even as the county prepares to make the masks illegal, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security isn’t conceding its constitutional authority to states or counties. That sets the stage for an expected battle in court. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told The Center Square Tuesday that an ordinance banning masks “would violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which makes it clear that Los Angeles does not control federal law enforcement." A few hours after McLaughlin’s comment, the five-member Board of Supervisors, which governs the county, voted 4-0 to approve an ordinance banning the masks. Supervisor Kathryn Barger abstained. To go into effect, the ordinance must be approved a second time at the board’s Dec. 9 meeting. Tuesday's vote came after no discussion during the meeting. It was appro