New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed a package of bills on March 25 that limit federal immigration enforcement activities in the state, including restrictions on face coverings for law enforcement officers, including ICE agents. The laws require officers to reveal their facial identity and present identification before detaining or arresting individuals.
The legislation is part of a broader effort to curb federal immigration enforcement in New Jersey, with Sherrill stating that the measures aim to protect residents' privacy and strengthen trust between law enforcement and communities. The laws also restrict the collection and sharing of immigration status information by state and local agencies.
The Department of Homeland Security has criticized similar measures in other states, calling them "irresponsible, reckless, and dangerous." Sherrill's actions mark a departure from her Democratic predecessor, former Governor Phil Murphy, who vetoed earlier versions of two of the bills. The legislation passed the state legislature along partisan lines, with Republican lawmakers and some residents protesting the measures.
Sherrill has been vocal in her opposition to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies, previously announcing a portal for residents to upload videos of ICE tactics. The new laws formalize New Jersey's Immigrant Trust Directive, which limits state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.