The US Justice Department has sued New Jersey and its Democratic Governor, Mikie Sherrill, over an executive order limiting federal immigration agents’ operations in the state. The order, issued earlier this month, restricts immigration officers from conducting enforcement actions on state-owned properties not open to the public without a judicial warrant. The Justice Department argues that this order is unconstitutional and interferes with federal immigration law enforcement.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that New Jersey’s leaders are enacting policies to obstruct and endanger law enforcement, adding that “states may not deliberately interfere with our efforts to remove illegal aliens and arrest criminals New Jersey’s sanctuary policies will not stand”. Governor Sherrill counters that the federal government should focus on training immigration agents to operate safely and effectively.