Trenton, NJ – Get your phones out, New Jersey!
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is calling on New Jerseyans to track and monitor ICE agents operating in their neighborhoods, asking them to keep their phones out and record ICE agents in the field.
New Jersey Republicans say that rhetoric opposing federal immigration enforcement signals a move to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from operating on state property, including prisons, raising concerns about cooperation between state and federal law enforcement.
Others are questioning why the Governor is asking residents to interfere with Criminal Illegal Alien warrant sweeps.
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In a statement, the New Jersey Republican Party accused Sherrill of pursuing policies similar to those in New York and California, arguing that limiting coordination with ICE would prevent the arrest of serious offenders and undermine public safety. Party officials said the approach risks disorder and weakens law enforcement partnerships, also for putting residents in the line of fire.
“Leftist Gov. Mikie Sherrill is trying to get more people killed,” said Tom Fitton, of Judicial Watch.
The criticism followed public remarks in which Sherrill said her administration would not allow ICE raids to be staged from state-owned properties and would create a public portal for residents to upload videos documenting ICE activity. Sherrill said the goal was to increase transparency and accountability.
“We are not going to allow any ICE raids to be staged from state properties,” Sherrill said. “If you see an ICE agent in the street, get your phone out. We want documentation.”
Sherrill also criticized ICE operations following a shooting in Minneapolis, describing the agency as unaccountable and alleging agents have detained people without identifying themselves or explaining their actions. She said state law enforcement in New Jersey operates under different standards and oversight,” the NJ GOP said in a statement. “Not to be outdone by New York’s Tish James and California’s Gavin Newsome, we see dangerous rhetoric and policy coming from Governor Sherrill. Rather than allow local law enforcement to work with ICE to arrest the worst of the worst, she risks turning law and order into a dangerous spectacle that will only result in Minneapolis-style chaos here in New Jersey.”
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Republicans disputed those claims, saying ICE agents enforce federal law and warning that restricting their access to state facilities could interfere with criminal investigations and detention operations. The GOP statement framed the issue as a matter of public safety rather than sanctuary policy.
“When Biden refused to enforce immigration law, we were told that states couldn’t enforce those laws because it was a federal function. Now, when Trump is trying to enforce federal immigration law, these same people say it’s fine for states to obstruct and sabotage the carrying out of this same federal function,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said about Sherrill.
- NJ GOP says Sherrill’s comments suggest ICE could be barred from state property
- Sherrill says her administration will not allow ICE raids from state facilities
- Republicans warn reduced cooperation could impact law enforcement operations
Public Safety Warning Shore News Network, Shore Media and Marketing, LLC, and its agents, sponsors and representatives caution readers against taking the advice of Governor Sherrill and could lead to arrest, harm, or unecessary violence escalation. This is not an endorsement or advertisement of the governor’s request.
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