Trump "Stabbed" from Within the US, New York Begins to Fight Back
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered federal US immigration agents operating in her state not to wear masks while conducting operations. This policy is expected to trigger new clashes with President Donald Trump’s administration, which is intensifying mass deportations of immigrants.
Hochul announced the instruction on Thursday local time. She considers the use of masks by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during operations as merely a tool to intimidate the public.
“For ICE, wearing masks without good reason is nothing but an intimidation tactic, a cowardly attempt to avoid accountability,” said Hochul, as quoted by AFP on Friday (8/5/2026).
Since Trump resumed pushing a large-scale deportation campaign, ICE agents have been known to cover their faces during arrests. The federal government argues that masks are used to prevent identification of officers and protect them from threats outside working hours.
However, this practice has sparked controversy after several ICE operations in various US cities went viral on social media. Footage shows fully armed and masked officers taking action against both citizens and non-citizens.
Public scrutiny has intensified following reports that two American citizens were killed by ICE officers in Minneapolis earlier this year.
In addition to banning mask use, Hochul has also limited ICE’s scope of movement in New York. She emphasised that federal agents are no longer permitted to enter schools, libraries, community centres, polling places, and other sensitive locations without a court warrant.
The state government has also prohibited local police from cooperating with ICE operations conducted solely on the basis of immigration violations.
“Our officers, paid with local tax money, are employed to protect their communities. They are not there to carry out federal government orders,” said Hochul.
New York’s actions are expected to face legal challenges from the Trump administration. Previously, similar rules passed by California’s legislature were blocked by a district court and later overturned on appeal.
Meanwhile, Trump’s immigration advisor, Tom Homan, has warned that local governments refusing to cooperate with ICE will face a harsh response from the federal government.
“What will happen to places like New York, and if people pass unreasonable laws not to cooperate with us, we will flood those areas,” said Homan.