New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill issued an executive order on Wednesday banning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from operating in private sections of state property without judicial warrants.
“ICE is making everyone less safe,” Sherrill said at a press conference. The order also aims to prevent ICE officers from “launching operations” from public parts of state property, she said.
The action follows a recent spate of ICE activity in New Jersey, including in Jersey City, Newark and Edison. An ICE agent discharged their weapon during an operation in Roxbury Township on Tuesday morning, according to acting state Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. The directives also come amid growing criticism of the federal crackdown following the shooting deaths of U.S. citizens Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
Sherrill, who took office in January, also announced the creation of an online portal out of the state attorney general’s office for observers to upload photos and videos of ICE activity — to help hold officers accountable and inform potential legal action, she said. Sherrill mentioned the coming portal in an appearance on “The Daily Show” late last month.
“Get out your phones, send us your videos, and help to keep New Jersey safe,” Sherill said Wednesday.
New York state Attorney General Letitia James launched a similar portal in October, following an ICE raid on a stretch of Canal Street where West African immigrants routinely sell counterfeit designer goods.
