New York police made their first arrest under Nassau County’s new mask-wearing ban on Sunday. Wesslin Omar Ramirez Castillo, 18, was apprehended in Levittown, New York, for wearing a mask and exhibiting suspicious behavior. Sources informed Fox News Digital that Castillo is an illegal immigrant from Guatemala who entered the U.S. in 2019.

A photo shows Castillo dressed in all black, and authorities reported that he attempted to conceal a bulge in his pants, later revealed to be a 14-inch knife. He is the first individual to be charged under the county’s newly enacted Mask Transparency Act, which restricts face coverings in public except for health and religious reasons. The law was introduced in response to large groups of protesters using masks to hide their identities during violent demonstrations.

Castillo now faces charges including fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree obstructing governmental administration, and violating the Mask Transparency Act. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman hailed the arrest as a “success with the new mask law.”

“Our police officers were able to utilize the mask ban legislation and other factors to detain and question an individual who was carrying a weapon with the intent to commit a robbery. This law provided the police with another tool to stop this dangerous criminal,” Blakeman stated.

The Republican-led Nassau County Legislature passed the mask ban bill on August 5, and it was signed into law on August 14. However, the legislation is currently facing a legal challenge from critics who claim it discriminates against people with disabilities.

The lawsuit, filed by two plaintiffs with various health conditions requiring medical-grade face masks, argues that they fear harassment and potential arrest due to the new ban. “While in public and private places, strangers have approached G.B. since August 5, 2024, to ask if they are sick, healthy, or why they are wearing a facemask,” the lawsuit states, referring to one of the plaintiffs by their initials.

The lawsuit further details that G.B. has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and asthma and relies on a wheelchair for mobility. “G.B. fears they will be arrested just for wearing a facemask for their health because there is no clear standard for police to determine if they meet the health exception,” the lawsuit claims. “G.B. is also worried about being harassed, discriminated against, or even assaulted by others, including business owners and employees, in Nassau County simply for wearing a mask.”

Despite the legal challenge, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman remains confident in the law’s constitutionality, stating that “there is a presumption of constitutionality when the legislature acts, and this legislation is reasonable and responsible.”