New Jersey Gov. Sherrill signed a law forcing ICE agents to disclose during raids
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New Jersey Governor Mikey Sherrill, a Democrat, signed legislation Wednesday to limit the use of face coverings by law enforcement, including ICE agents,
The law, which requires officers to release their personal information before arresting someone, comes as some federal agents seek to hide their personal information during immigration raids in communities across the country.
Sherrill, who was sworn into office in January, said the mask ban is part of an effort to ensure the safety of Garden State residents.
“I don’t believe we have to say this, but in the United States of America, we will not tolerate masked soldiers pretending to be well-trained police officers,” he said.
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New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a law banning face coverings for ICE agents. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The law is part of a plan the governor said will “protect people’s privacy and rights” and “strengthen trust between law enforcement and our communities.”
Democrats in Congress and in various state legislatures have called for months to pass measures that would prevent immigration agents from wearing masks to hide their identities, saying the law is needed to ensure transparency.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, also signed legislation earlier this month limiting face coverings for ICE agents.
The Department of Homeland Security has criticized efforts to expose ICE agents, including calling Washington state’s new measure “reckless, reckless and dangerous.”
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The measure requires officers to present identification before arresting a person. (Photos by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty)
“To be clear: we will not abide by this unconstitutional ban,” the ministry said at the time.
Sherrill’s signing on Wednesday comes as he continues to target the Trump administration. Earlier this year, he announced a website to allow citizens to upload photos and videos of ICE agents conducting immigration operations.
“If you see an ICE agent on the street, get your phone out, we want to know,” Sherrill said at the time. “They haven’t arrived yet. They’re going to pick up people, they won’t tell us who they are, they won’t tell us they’re here legally, they won’t check. They’re going to pick up American citizens. They picked up a five-year-old child. We want papers, and we’re going to make sure we get them.”
The US Department of Homeland Security has criticized efforts to expose ICE agents. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
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“We’ve seen people on the street with masks and no signs. So we’re not holding ourselves accountable at all, we’re hiding from people – and we’ve seen a lot of undermining of what law enforcement should be doing to keep people safe,” he added.
The Trump administration also sued New Jersey over Sherrill’s executive order last month that prohibits immigration agencies from making arrests in non-public areas of state property, including correctional facilities and courts. The order also prohibits the use of federal property as a staging or processing facility for immigration enforcement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
