Erin Lanahan 
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill issued an executive order on February 11, 2026, to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity on state property. The executive order was signed in tandem with an announcement of new online resources for New Jersey residents. Shortly after the executive order was shared, NJ Transit announced it would comply with the order barring federal agents from non-public state property. Here’s a breakdown on the ICE ban from Governor Mikie Sherrill, plus the action NJ Transit is taking against ICE activities.
ICE Agents Barred From Conducting Activities On NJ State Property
Governor Sherrill’s Executive Order 12 was signed and took effect on February 11th, 2026. The executive order bans federal immigration officers from entering, accessing, or using nonpublic areas of State property for their operations, unless authorized by a judicial warrant. The executive order follows several high-profile ICE operations across New Jersey in recent weeks, which sparked protests and calls for local protections.
This bars ICE agents, federal Customs and Border Protection, any similar agency or successor agency, or any other federal law enforcement agency tasked with civil immigration enforcement or working with ICE or Customs and Border Protection, from conducting activities on state property. It remains unclear how frequently federal agents previously used state property for immigration enforcement operations.
This doesn’t outright ban federal immigration officers from accessing state property, but they are no longer allowed to conduct operations at these spaces. State property includes facilities, premises, parcels, and portions that are owned, operated, leased, or controlled by New Jersey Executive Branch departments and agencies. This includes but is not limited to residential medical facilities, child care centers, government offices, and state university dorms, according to the Governor’s office.
Legal experts note that while states cannot block federal immigration enforcement outright, they are generally permitted to control access to state-owned property. Whether the executive order could face legal challenges remains unclear.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told POLITICO that Governor Sherrill’s order is “legally illiterate” and would not help public safety. “How does this serve the people of New Jersey? The biggest losers are the people these politicians were elected to serve,” DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin told POLITICO.
“I commend Governor Sherrill for taking strong, decisive action to protect the people of New Jersey. Her executive order echoes steps we’ve taken in Jersey City, and having the backing of the state strengthens the work everyone at the local level is doing to protect our residents,” said Jersey City Mayor James Solomon. “At a time when an out-of-control federal government is trampling our American civil liberties, it is essential that state and local leaders be aligned in pushing back in defense of our communities.”
“I commend Governor Mikie Sherrill for taking decisive action to safeguard the safety and Constitutional rights of residents,” said Hoboken Mayor Emily B. Jabbour. “At a moment when fear and uncertainty are weighing heavily on many families, the Governor’s leadership provides some much‑needed clarity, accountability, and reassurance. I have asked legal counsel to explore whether similar measures can be implemented at the municipal level to ensure that City property remains a safe and welcoming space for all members of our community.”
Governor Sherrill also pledged to continue enforcing the Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive. This statewide policy, launched in 2018, is designed to strengthen trust between New Jersey law enforcement officers and the state’s immigrant communities. It draws a clear line between state, county, and local law enforcement who enforce state criminal law, and federal immigration authorities, such as ICE, who enforce federal civil immigration law. It limits the types of voluntary assistance the state’s law enforcement officers may provide to federal immigration authorities. The directive aims to build trust and make victims and witnesses feel safe reporting crimes to local police without fear of deportation.
“I take seriously my responsibility to keep New Jersey residents safe and, as a Navy veteran and former federal prosecutor, my commitment to upholding the Constitution will never waver. This executive order will prohibit ICE from using state property to launch operations,” Governor Sherrill said in a statement. “Given ICE’s willingness to flout the Constitution and violently endanger communities – detaining children, arresting citizens, and even killing several innocent civilians – I will stand up for New Jerseyans right to be safe.”
Online Resources For Interactions with Federal Agents
The administration also launched an online portal for residents to upload their interactions with ICE in New Jersey. According to the governor’s office, the portal will help the State hold ICE accountable, including potential law violations. The form, available in 10 languages, will require residents to provide various details about the alleged misconduct, as well as the option to upload photos and videos.
The State says examples of concerning activity include uses of excessive force, warrantless searches or arrests, racial profiling, wrongful detentions, interference with voting, or other civil rights violations. Information sent through the portal may be used by the Attorney General’s office to assist in enforcing the law, as evidence in court, or for referrals to other state agencies. The Sherrill Administration says it will help them understand trends in ICE enforcement, help shape legal strategy to protect residents, and guard against misconduct.
Governor Sherill also launched a new website for New Jersey residents to quickly find information about their rights when interacting with federal agents. The website will be continuously updated with information from the governor, administration officials, the Office of New Americans, and other partners.
NJ Transit Following Suit
Shortly after the executive order was issued, NJ Transit signaled it would comply with the new restrictions. NJ Transit announced it will follow Governor Sherrill’s executive order during a board meeting on February 13. The meeting began with comments from several riders asking for policies that would ban ICE agents from conducting business on NJ Transit trains, buses, or at stations without a judicial warrant.
“Rest assured, we will follow the executive order, and I’ll leave it at that,” NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri said during the meeting.
This comes after ICE agents were spotted on February 2, 2026, at the 9th and Congress Street Light Rail Station between Hoboken and Jersey City. After learning of the reported sightings, Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour issued a statement, saying “Upon learning of the situation, Councilman Joe Quintero and I went directly to the area near the 9th Street Light Rail Station, where we spoke to multiple witnesses who confirmed they saw unmarked vehicles and several individuals being apprehended from the light rail train and in the area of the station.”
On February 10, 2026, Morris County residents called for an investigation after shots were fired during an ICE operation in Roxbury Township. The DHS told CBS News ICE was conducting a targeted enforcement to make an arrest, but the target “tried to evade arrest, rammed into a law enforcement vehicle, and attempted to run over an officer.”
DHS released a statement to CBS News saying, in part, “Following his training, the officer defensively used his firearm and shot out the tires of the vehicle to stop the threat.” No injuries were reported, and the man was taken into custody.
Also in Morris County, 11 men were reportedly detained by ICE outside a laundromat in Morristown in January 2026. Among those detained was a 17-year-old Morristown High School senior. The DHS told CBS News it was part of “routine immigration enforcement actions.”
Other Communities’ Responses
In January, Jersey City Mayor James Solomon signed an order prohibiting City property from being used in any ICE-related activities, such as using a parking lot for a staging area. The Order establishes a categorical ban on the use of City-owned or City-controlled property like parking lots, vacant lots, and garages – as staging areas, processing locations, or operational bases for immigration enforcement. City Departments will post clear signage on relevant properties and implement physical access controls where appropriate.
“City property exists to serve the people of Jersey City, not to facilitate federal operations that undermine community trust,” Mayor Solomon said. “We’ve seen what happens when local governments allow their resources to be commandeered for immigration raids. That won’t happen here.”
The Kearny City Council has also passed a ban limiting the city’s involvement with ICE activities. A resolution “prohibiting the use of Town resources, personnel, and facilities for federal civil immigration enforcement” was unanimously passed, with exceptions for valid judicial warrants or court orders.
