NJ Spotlight News
Sherrill signs immigration bills to counter Trump enforcement
Clip: 3/25/2026 | 1m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
Governor turns limits on police interaction into law
Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Wednesday signed three bills designed to protect immigrants rights amid federal detainments and deportments.
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NJ Spotlight News is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS
NJ Spotlight News
Sherrill signs immigration bills to counter Trump enforcement
Clip: 3/25/2026 | 1m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Wednesday signed three bills designed to protect immigrants rights amid federal detainments and deportments.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipGovernor Sherrill has signed three controversial bills into law to protect the rights of immigrants here in New Jersey.
This comes after years of debate over the legislation and intense objection from Republicans in the legislature.
Governor Sherrill hadn't indicated publicly before today whether she'd sign the bills, even as calls grew louder for her to do so amid growing criticism over ICE and its tactics.
But she did sign them today, flanked by Democratic legislators and immigration advocates who fought for their passage.
The first bill codifies the immigrant trust directive into law, restricting local and state police from assisting federal immigration officers unless they have a criminal warrant.
The second bill limits how government and health care entities can collect and share personal information, including immigration status.
And the third bans local and federal officials from wearing masks when performing their duties.
The bill's passage comes amid several legal battles over immigration policy.
The Sherrill administration filed a lawsuit with Roxbury Township to stop DHS from turning a warehouse into an immigration detention center.
And the Trump administration has sued New Jersey over an executive order barring ICE from using state property to carry out enforcement operations.
Governor Sherrill says this trio of bills will limit the Trump administration's overreach and keep New Jersey safe.
New Jersey law enforcement should enforce New Jersey laws.
We shouldn't use New Jersey resources to do federal agents' jobs.
At the same time, we're not going to allow mass federal agents to terrorize our state.
We've all seen them in videos.
Unknown, unnamed, unaccountable, chasing after citizens.
Again, not here.
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NJ Spotlight News is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS