ICE arrests dispute as Trump administration sues New Jersey over state property limits

The US Justice Department has filed a federal lawsuit in Trenton challenging Gov Mikie Sherrill’s executive order that restricts ICE arrests in nonpublic areas of New Jersey state property and bars state sites from being used for immigration staging or processing. Sherrill rejected the claims, while the acting attorney general called the case a waste of resources.

The Trump administration filed a lawsuit against New Jersey over limits on federal immigration arrests. The case challenged an order that blocked arrests in nonpublic state areas. The restricted sites included courthouses and correctional facilities. It also stopped state property use for immigration staging or processing.

The Justice Department filed the suit on Monday in federal court in Trenton. The complaint targeted Gov Mikie Sherrill’s February 11 executive order. Sherrill, a Democrat, took office on January 20. The filing said the order interfered with federal immigration enforcement efforts.

Trump administration lawsuit over immigration enforcement in New Jersey

The lawsuit accused Sherrill of protecting criminal offenders from federal authorities. It also alleged an effort to block federal law enforcement actions. The complaint said Sherrill aimed to frustrate President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. It described the executive order as a barrier to immigration enforcement.

The filing stated the order "poses an intolerable obstacle to immigration enforcement\". It also said it \"directly regulates and discriminates against the federal government\". The lawsuit misspelled Sherrill’s name as Sherill. The complaint focused on access limits inside state-controlled property.

New Jersey response to Trump administration lawsuit on immigration enforcement

Asked about the lawsuit on Tuesday, Sherrill criticised federal priorities. Sherrill said: \"What I think the federal government needs to be focused on right now, instead of attacking states like New Jersey working to keep people safe, is actually training their ICE agents.\"

New Jersey’s acting attorney general, Jennifer Davenport, also rejected the legal action. Davenport said the Trump administration was misusing federal resources. Davenport said: \"New Jersey will fight the lawsuit and continue to ensure the safety of our states immigrant communities,\" adding it was a pointless challenge.

Trump administration lawsuit history on immigration enforcement restrictions

The case followed other federal efforts against state and local limits on immigration enforcement. Last year, the Justice Department sued Minnesota and Colorado. It also sued cities including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver. Those disputes involved so-called sanctuary laws limiting police cooperation with immigration agents.

In May last year, the Trump administration sued four New Jersey cities over similar policies. The cities were Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and Hoboken. That earlier case remained pending. The new state-level lawsuit added to ongoing legal fights over immigration enforcement rules.

With inputs from PTI