New Jersey Governor Bans ICE From State Property

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill issued an executive order on February 11 banning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from accessing non-public areas of state property, including NJ Transit facilities, without a judicial warrant. The directive also prohibits federal agents from using state property as staging areas for enforcement operations. These measures follow an increase in ICE activity in cities like Newark and Jersey City, as well as a February 2 incident at a light rail station near Hoboken and a weapon discharge in Roxbury Township.

Alongside the order, Sherrill launched a multilingual reporting portal and a "know your rights" website. The portal allows residents to upload photos, videos, and narratives of ICE interactions to the New Jersey Attorney General's office for review. Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport stated her office will review every report and expressed a willingness to prosecute federal agents for state law violations.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused Sherrill of obstruction of justice, claiming the portal encourages violence against officers. DHS and White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson cited a 1,300% increase in assaults on ICE officers, attributing the rise to smears by Democratic officials. Conversely, Sherrill argued the measures are necessary to document federal overreach and protect residents from agents who she claims have abused their power and violated basic rights.