New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed an executive order Wednesday prohibiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement from conducting operations on state-owned property, escalating tensions between Democratic state leaders and federal immigration authorities.
The order bans ICE from using state grounds for enforcement activity, with a limited exception for operations backed by a judicial warrant. The move aligns with a broader push from Democrats in the House of Representatives to require ICE to obtain approval from a judge before carrying out actions nationwide.
In a press release announcing the measure, Sherrill said she was acting in response to what she described as “ICE’s willingness to flout the Constitution and violently endanger communities – detaining children, arresting citizens, and even killing several innocent civilians.”
The executive order follows the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota in separate incidents involving federal immigration authorities. Those killings sparked protests across the country and prompted backlash from lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Speaking Wednesday, Sherrill laid out the scope of the restrictions in sweeping terms.
“No ICE staging areas, no processing locations, no operating bases, no federal civil immigration actions” will operate from “any state grounds — not our parks, not our roadways, not our buildings,” the governor said.
The order effectively blocks the agency from using public property controlled by the state of New Jersey as a base of operations unless agents have secured a judicial warrant authorizing their actions.
In addition to the prohibition on state property, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General announced the launch of a new online portal for residents to report potential misconduct by ICE officials or alleged violations of the law. The portal allows individuals to upload reports, photos, and videos in 10 different languages.
Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the initiative is intended to ensure that federal immigration enforcement complies with constitutional and legal standards.
“It is essential that federal agents who conduct immigration enforcement operations in New Jersey follow the Constitution, as well as federal and state laws,” Davenport said in a statement.
She argued that when federal officers “violate the law and sow fear in our communities, they undermine public trust in law enforcement and make it harder for us to keep the public safe.”
Davenport encouraged residents to document and submit any interactions they believe may be improper.
“We encourage the public to share photos and videos through our new online portal. We will ensure the safety of our communities and hold the federal government accountable when they violate the law,” she said.
The governor’s order represents a significant policy step by a Democratic-led state seeking to limit ICE’s operational footprint within its borders. While the measure carves out an exception for judicially authorized actions, it sends a clear signal that New Jersey intends to restrict federal civil immigration enforcement on property under state control.
As debates over immigration enforcement continue nationwide, Sherrill’s action underscores the widening divide between certain state governments and federal authorities over how immigration laws should be carried out.
