“States May Not Deliberately Interfere” – Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Democrat Governor Over Executive Order

By Danielle | Feb 24, 2026

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of New Jersey and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill “over New Jersey’s new Executive Order No. 12 that interferes with the federal government’s enforcement of its immigration laws.”

“Federal agents are risking their lives to keep New Jersey citizens safe, and yet New Jersey’s leaders are enacting policies designed to obstruct and endanger law enforcement,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

“States may not deliberately interfere with our efforts to remove illegal aliens and arrest criminals — New Jersey’s sanctuary policies will not stand,” she continued.

“The DOJ is absolutely right to sue New Jersey over this order that blocks ICE from doing their job.

Tying the hands of federal law enforcement doesn’t make anyone safer,” Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) commented.

Congressman Jeff Van Drew



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The DOJ is absolutely right to sue New Jersey over this order that blocks ICE from doing their job.

Tying the hands of federal law enforcement doesn’t make anyone safer.


foxnews.com
DOJ sues New Jersey over executive order limiting ICE cooperation, expanding sanctuary status
DOJ sues New Jersey and Gov. Mikie Sherrill, accusing the sanctuary state of expanding policies that block ICE arrests in state facilities.

4:47 PM · Feb 24, 2026

More from the Justice Department:

The Executive Order prohibits ICE and other federal immigration officials from conducting secure arrests of criminal illegal aliens inside nonpublic areas of state property including state correctional facilities. Not only are New Jersey’s sanctuary policies illegal under federal law, but, as alleged in the complaint, New Jersey’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities results in the release of dangerous criminals from police custody who would otherwise be subject to removal, including illegal aliens convicted of aggravated assault, burglary, and drug and human trafficking, onto the streets.

On her first day in office, Attorney General Bondi instructed the Department’s Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal immigration laws or impede lawful federal immigration operations. The Department’s list of sanctuary jurisdictions published on August 5, 2025, precedes New Jersey’s latest Executive Order. Regardless, Attorney General Bondi has vowed to bring litigation to end such policies nationwide. Today’s lawsuit is the latest in a series of lawsuits brought by the Civil Division targeting illegal sanctuary city policies across the country, including in New York, Minnesota, and Los Angeles, California.

“I take seriously my responsibility to keep New Jersey residents safe and, as a Navy veteran and former federal prosecutor, my commitment to upholding the Constitution will never waver. This executive order will prohibit ICE from using state property to launch operations. To strengthen public safety, we will also give New Jersey residents the tools to report ICE activity to the Attorney General’s office and ensure residents know their Constitutional rights. Today, we are making clear that the Trump administration’s lawless actions will not go unchecked in New Jersey. Given ICE’s willingness to flout the Constitution and violently endanger communities – detaining children, arresting citizens, and even killing several innocent civilians – I will stand up for New Jerseyans right to be safe,” Sherrill said earlier this month.



Democrat Governor Signs Executive Order To Limit ICE Operations Within State

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed an executive order banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting operations on state …

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The New York Post shared further:

Sherrill fired back at the DOJ lawsuit Tuesday, countering that “what 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 with some modicum of training.”

Acting State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport separately said the administration was “wasting its resources on a pointless legal challenge to Governor Sherrill’s executive order. Under Governor Sherrill’s leadership, New Jersey will continue to ensure the safety of our state’s immigrant communities.”In addition to the order, Sherrill’s administration has launched a portal that lets New Jerseyans document their interactions with ICE for the state attorney general’s office.Her team cited the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last month as a motivating factor in the executive order.

https://100percentfedup.com/states-may-not-deliberately-interfere-justice-department-files/