Woodbridge, NJ – In an appearance with the New Jersey PBA, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill told a room full of law enforcement officers that she supports a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants living in New Jersey, during a charged exchange over the state’s sanctuary policies and immigration enforcement.
She also said she will hold ICE agents and New Jersey cops accountable and will force them to ‘follow the law’ when it comes to illegal immigration. She did not say whether or not she will revoke Governor Phil Murphy’s Immigrant Trust Directive.
Sherrill made the comments during a Q&A session following her speech at a New Jersey State PBA-hosted forum, where she addressed union delegates ahead of the November gubernatorial election. When pressed by a police officer about illegal immigration, driver’s licenses for undocumented residents, and sanctuary protections, Sherrill defended her stance by calling for comprehensive immigration reform that includes legal pathways for those who have lived and worked in the state.
“I believe in comprehensive immigration reform,” she said, “which means getting control of our borders, making sure that people have a pathway to citizenship, who’ve been working here, paying taxes, can do that legally.”
Estimates place the number of undocumented immigrants living in New Jersey at roughly 500,000, according to data from the Migration Policy Institute. Sherrill did not name a figure but expressed broad support for legalization efforts for those already embedded in communities and contributing to the state economy.
The exchange took a sharp turn when the officer asked if New Jersey would assist federal agencies in detention and deportation. Sherrill declined to commit to cooperation with ICE, instead repeating that she would “follow the law and the Constitution.”
“I appreciate your answer. However, I do not think you will do anything to help the federal government, help us, and do anything about illegal immigrants,” the state trooper said to Sherrill.
“Uh, you are welcome to think that. I will just say I’ve served the federal government. I’ve served this country my entire life,” she responded.
She stressed her law enforcement background as a federal prosecutor and said she has personally overseen deportation cases for individuals who violated immigration laws.
Her comments come as New Jersey continues to operate under sanctuary policies enacted in 2018 under the Immigrant Trust Directive, which limits cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE. Critics, including many in law enforcement, have blamed these policies for complicating enforcement efforts and driving up costs in public services, including health care and housing.
While Sherrill expressed concern over the underground economy fueled by undocumented labor, she made clear that local police should focus on protecting communities rather than engaging in immigration enforcement. She drew a sharp line between federal immigration responsibilities and the roles of municipal and state officers.
“I see that as ICE’s job,” she told the crowd. “I see the job of all of you in this room as keeping our communities safe.”
When asked if illegal immigrants will continue receiving free health benefits, which has been attributed to rising public healthcare costs, Sherrill said she will close New Jersey’s private detention facilities and push for the release of the illegal aliens housed in those facilities.
She did not say she will stop providing medical benefits for illegal migrants in the state. She also said she would keep the immigration trust directive.
“I don’t believe those funds are going to undocumented people,” she told the officer.
The immigration discussion was one of several contentious topics raised during the forum, which also featured questions on bail reform, juvenile crime, and the state’s correctional system. Sherrill is set to face Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the general election.
