The U.S. Department of Homeland Security argued that enforcing federal immigration laws is a federal responsibility. “New Jersey will be less safe as a direct result of these policies,” the department added.

Where do advocates stand? Henal Patel, law and policy director at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, said she’s encouraged to see Sherrill support communities in a blue state with one of the nation’s largest immigrant populations. “We know ICE has been here actively for a whole year, but we’re seeing new videos out of Jersey City of how they’re behaving,” Patel said.