The Department of Justice announced Feb. 24 it filed a lawsuit against the State of New Jersey and Gov. Mikie Sherrill. The complaint comes in response to the governor’s recent executive order, which bars ICE from state property.
The Justice Department challenges EO 12, which NJBIZ reported on. The measure prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal immigration officials from making arrests in nonpublic areas of state property. That includes state correctional facilities. It also launched a new portal for residents to report interactions with the federal agency.
The complaint argues the state’s sanctuary policies violate federal law and lead to the release of undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes, such as aggravated assault, burglary, and drug and human trafficking. The DOJ says these individuals would otherwise face removal.
“Federal agents are risking their lives to keep New Jersey citizens safe, and yet New Jersey’s leaders are enacting policies designed to obstruct and endanger law enforcement,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “States may not deliberately interfere with our efforts to remove illegal aliens and arrest criminals — New Jersey’s sanctuary policies will not stand.”
AG Davenport responds
Acting New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport responded to the lawsuit in a statement.
“Instead of working with us to promote public safety and protect our state’s residents, the Trump Administration is wasting its resources on a pointless legal challenge to Gov. Sherrill’s executive order.
“Under Gov. Sherrill’s leadership, New Jersey will continue to ensure the safety of our state’s immigrant communities. We look forward to defending this executive order in court.”
Sherrill responded to a question about the lawsuit at an unrelated event Tuesday.
Speaking in Woodbridge regarding statewide snow cleanup she said, “I think what the federal government needs to be focused on right now – instead of attacking states like New Jersey working to keep people safe – is actually training their ICE agents with some modicum of training like any law enforcement officer in the State of New Jersey would have. So that they can operate better and more safely.”
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