Trump sues New Jersey over immigration sidelining

TRENTON, N.J. (CN) — The Trump administration sued New Jersey and Governor Mikie Sherrill over the state’s policy to bar immigration officials from entering state-owned property.  

In the 21-page lawsuit filed Monday evening, the U.S. Department of Justice claims the state’s new policy wrongfully prohibits federal immigration officials from using state property as a staging area, processing location or base for their operations.

Earlier this month, Sherrill signed an executive order preventing federal immigration officials from commandeering state-owned office buildings, parking lots, garages and other facilities for their activities.

State officials also have encouraged New Jerseyans to share photos and videos of interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials through an online portal.

However, the Justice Department says the executive order usurps Congress’ authority and violates the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution.

“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 in a statement. “States may not deliberately interfere with our efforts to remove illegal aliens and arrest criminals. New Jersey’s sanctuary policies will not stand.”

New Jersey officials vowed to fight the lawsuit, noting they “look forward” to defending the executive order in court.

“Instead of working with us to promote public safety and protect our state’s residents, the Trump administration is wasting its resources on a pointless legal challenge to Governor Sherrill’s executive order,” Acting New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said in a statement.

New Jersey Executive Order No. 12 makes exception for immigration officials to use state-owned property when they obtain a judicial warrant or order. It also clarifies it does not prevent the enforcement of any state or federal law that applies to state property.

“Today, we are making clear that the Trump administration’s lawless actions will not go unchecked in New Jersey,” Sherrill said after signing the order. “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.”

The lawsuit is the latest friction between the Trump administration and Democratic-led states over immigration enforcement, following a lawsuit against California over masked federal immigration officials and several incidents involving New Jersey.

Earlier this month, ICE purchased a 470,000-square-foot warehouse in Roxbury, New Jersey, to process detained immigrants. Two other facilities in the northern part of the state already house immigrant detainees.

Last year, Democratic Representative LaMonica McIver was charged with assault after a skirmish with federal officials during a review of a federal immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey. McIver sought but was denied congressional immunity last November.  

Sherrill, who won her race for governor in a landslide last year, campaigned on banning federal immigration officials from wearing masks during operations.

Follow @NickRummell