New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, State Sued by Department of Justice Over Executive Orders and Laws Against Federal Immigration Officers

Newark, NJ — A major legal battle over immigration enforcement is unfolding in New Jersey after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit against the state and Gov. Mikie Sherrill, challenging an executive order that restricts how and where federal agents can operate. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, targets Executive Order No. 12, which bars immigration authorities from accessing nonpublic areas of state property—including prisons, courthouses, and government buildings—without a judicial warrant. Federal officials argue the policy interferes with immigration enforcement and violates the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. Federal vs. state power at center of fight At the heart of the case is a fundamental question: how far can a state go in limiting federal immigration enforcement on its own property? The Justice Department says New Jersey crossed that line. “States may not deliberately interfere with our efforts to remove illegal aliens and arrest criminals,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said, arguing the policy obstructs federal law enforcement operations. The complaint claims the order “stands as an obstacle” to federal immigration enforcement and improperly singles out federal agents for restrictions not applied to other law enforcement. What the executive order does Signed in February 2026,