Judge Affirms New Jersey Order Blocking ICE Access to State Property

Judge Georgette Castner of the U.S. District Court confirmed the validity of New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill's executive order that limits ICE’s access to nonpublic portions of state-owned land. The ruling found the federal government could not prove its claim that the order discriminated against federal immigration officials. The order, issued in February, prohibits ICE from using private state property and from staging operations there without a judicial warrant.

The Trump administration argued the order was preempted by federal law and unlawfully regulated the federal government, but the judge held that no statutory duty compels state officials to aid immigration enforcement. Citing the anticommandeering principle, she noted that Congress intended any state assistance to be voluntary. While the order does not stop ICE from conducting enforcement, it prevents New Jersey resources from being used in most enforcement activities. The Department of Justice has not commented, and it remains unclear whether the federal government will appeal.