Wed Jul 16 12:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Nassau County Executive Exempts Law Enforcement from Mask Ban Amidst Controversy
**Mineola, NY** – Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has issued an executive order carving out an exemption to the county’s controversial mask ban, allowing law enforcement officers to wear face coverings during specific operations, including ICE raids and undercover work. The original law, passed in August in response to anti-Israel protests, makes wearing a mask a misdemeanor crime, punishable by a fine and potential jail time, except for religious or health reasons.
Blakeman defended the new order, stating it was designed to protect officers’ identities and prevent retaliation against them or their families during sensitive operations. “Here in Nassau County, we respect our law enforcement officers,” Blakeman said at the signing. “And we have their back.”
The exemption coincides with Nassau County’s increasing involvement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The county has deputized ten detectives to work alongside federal agents in detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants, a partnership that has drawn criticism from some.
The move stands in stark contrast to a proposed bill in New York City that would prevent federal agents from wearing masks while on duty. Blakeman criticized the city’s proposal, arguing it would hinder law enforcement efforts.
Nassau County Democrats have condemned Blakeman’s actions, calling the executive order politically motivated and an implicit acknowledgment of the original mask ban’s potential illegality. “This executive order is a quiet admission that his original law is most likely illegal,” said Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton. She further stated the Democrats warned about the ban’s vagueness and broadness, and it focused on politics over public good.
Blakeman refuted these claims, stating the mask ban was never intended to target law enforcement but to deter agitators seeking to avoid accountability during protests.
First Piper 