In a bold challenge to federal immigration policy, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed Executive Order No. 12 this week, officially prohibiting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and CBP from using state-owned property for enforcement operations.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The move marks a significant escalation in the jurisdictional tug-of-war between Trenton and the Trump administration.
The Core Restrictions
The order establishes strict boundaries for federal agents operating within the state:
- Warrant Requirement: Federal agents are barred from non-public state areas—including state universities, hospitals, and government offices—unless they possess a judicial warrant.
- No Staging Areas: The state will no longer allow its parking lots or facilities to be used as “launch pads” for immigration raids or processing.
- Public Accountability: A new state-run portal allows residents to submit evidence of federal misconduct, creating a formal record of ICE activity within New Jersey borders.
The Rationale
Governor Sherrill, drawing on her background as a former prosecutor, characterized the order as an effort to maintain public trust and safety. By distancing state resources from federal raids, the administration aims to ensure that immigrant communities feel safe accessing state services, schools, and healthcare without fear of detention.
“We are ensuring that New Jersey’s resources are used to protect our residents, not to facilitate federal overreach,” Sherrill noted during the signing.
