New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed an executive order Wednesday prohibiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement from initiating enforcement operations on property owned by the state, intensifying the standoff between Trenton and the Trump administration over immigration policy.
In announcing the move, Sherrill framed the order as part of her broader duty to protect residents and uphold constitutional principles. “I take seriously my responsibility to keep New Jersey residents safe, and as a Navy veteran and former federal prosecutor, my commitment to upholding the Constitution will never waver,” Sherrill said in a statement. “This executive order will prohibit ICE from using state property to launch operations.
“To strengthen public safety, we will also give New Jersey residents the tools to report ICE activity to the Attorney General’s office and ensure residents know their constitutional rights.”
She went further, accusing federal officials of overstepping legal bounds. “Today, we are making clear that the Trump administration’s lawless actions will not go unchecked in New Jersey,” added Sherrill.
“Given ICE’s willingness to flout the Constitution and violently endanger communities — detaining children, arresting citizens, and even killing several innocent civilians — I will stand up for New Jerseyans’ right to be safe.”
Alongside the executive order, Sherrill unveiled an online reporting system allowing residents to notify the state about encounters with federal immigration agents.
According to Department of Homeland Security data obtained by CBS News, nearly 400,000 immigrants were taken into custody by ICE during President Donald Trump’s first year after returning to office.
Immigration enforcement activity has continued across New Jersey in recent weeks, triggering pushback from local officials and community leaders. Officers assigned to ICE’s Newark Field Office, based at 970 Broad Street, have conducted several arrests throughout the state, including operations at transportation centers and neighborhood gathering spots. In cities such as Hoboken, local officials reported subdued activity and near-empty streets in the aftermath of enforcement actions.
State lawmakers have also responded by introducing bills designed to impose new transparency requirements and curb certain ICE practices, as stepped-up immigration enforcement has heightened anxiety among residents and public officials alike.
{Matzav.com}