New Jersey AG moves to block 2 counties’ ICE cooperation

NEWARK, N.J. >> New Jersey’s attorney general ordered two county sheriffs Friday to stop providing help to federal immigration authorities, in the latest skirmish over a state directive issued last spring that largely barred such cooperation.

The directive bars local law enforcement officers from participating in civil immigration enforcement operations conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. It prohibits them from questioning or arresting anyone based solely on suspected immigration status, or asking a person’s immigration status unless it’s necessary in investigating a serious offense.

The policy drew strong pushback from ICE and from some county law enforcement officials in New Jersey. Two of the latter, the sheriffs in Cape May and Monmouth counties, are the only ones currently with agreements with ICE, called 287(g) agreements.

The agreements “undermine public safety” and discourage people from reporting crimes, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said Friday.

“In an average week in New Jersey, 2,400 people are arrested,” he said. “To prosecute those crimes we need victims and witnesses to come forward.”

In an emailed statement, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden called Friday’s directive “a disappointing day for law enforcement” and vowed to fight back.

“We shall continue to pursue legal remedies to this directive, which deprives Monmouth County of the ability to identify individuals who have committed crimes and are here illegally,” he said.