New Jersey Defies Trump–Federal Lawsuit Hits

New Jersey’s Democrat Governor Mikie Sherrill brazenly obstructs President Trump’s deportation of criminal illegal aliens with a sanctuary executive order, prompting swift federal lawsuit to defend American sovereignty.

Story Snapshot

Trump’s Justice Department sued New Jersey on February 23, 2026, over Gov. Sherrill’s February 11 order blocking ICE from state facilities and property.
The lawsuit charges Supremacy Clause violations for impeding federal immigration enforcement and endangering public safety by releasing criminal detainees.
Sherrill defends the policy as protecting communities, while creating a portal to report ICE activity, fueling Democratic resistance to Trump’s agenda.
Past federal court wins against similar state restrictions bolster DOJ’s case, signaling victory for border security.

Lawsuit Targets Illegal Obstruction

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a 21-page federal lawsuit on February 23, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Trenton against Governor Mikie Sherrill and New Jersey. The suit challenges her February 11 executive order, which bars ICE agents from non-public areas of state facilities like prisons, jails, and courthouses. It also prohibits using state property, including parking lots, for immigration enforcement staging or processing. Federal officials argue this directly obstructs Trump’s mass deportation efforts targeting criminal illegal aliens.

Sherrill’s Order Implements Radical State Law

Governor Sherrill, sworn in on January 20, 2026, after her November 2025 election victory, signed the order to enforce a new state law. This legislation directs state and local employees to prioritize their duties over aiding federal immigration actions. Sherrill announced an online portal for reporting ICE interactions, accusing federal agents of constitutional violations and violence. Critics see this as deliberate sabotage of national security, prioritizing illegal immigrants over American citizens in a border-state sanctuary push.

Federal Claims Highlight Supremacy Clause Breach

DOJ asserts Sherrill’s policy violates the Supremacy Clause by discriminating against ICE operations while allowing FBI and DEA access. It impedes detainer requests, which hold deportable criminals until ICE pickup, forcing releases into communities and creating public safety risks. The complaint accuses the state of harboring criminal offenders and obstructing the President’s constitutional duties. Notably, it repeatedly misspells Sherrill’s name as “Sherill,” a detail noted in multiple reports underscoring the order’s urgency.

State Officials Push Back Aggressively

On February 24, Governor Sherrill held a press conference criticizing the lawsuit, urging federal focus on ICE training rather than suing “safe states.” Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport called it a waste of resources, vowing New Jersey will fight while protecting immigrant communities. These responses frame the conflict as state sovereignty against federal overreach, but precedents favor DOJ in blocking similar restrictions.

Precedents and Broader Implications

Prior DOJ suits succeeded against California over mask and ID laws discriminating against federal agents, citing Supremacy Clause grounds. In May 2025, DOJ targeted four New Jersey cities—Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken—for sanctuary policies, with cases pending. A victory here could halt Sherrill’s order via injunction, easing ICE access and deterring other Democrat-led states. Long-term, it weakens sanctuary movements nationwide, advancing Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration amid his second-term priorities. Short-term litigation strains resources but bolsters federal authority over open borders chaos.