Newly inaugurated New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) is facing growing scrutiny after announcing plans for a state-backed online system that would allow residents to document federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in action.
The initiative has alarmed law enforcement advocates, who warn the platform could interfere with federal operations and potentially put officers at risk.
Sherrill unveiled the “ICE Activity Reporting Portal” during a Wednesday appearance on “The Daily Show,” explaining that the system would let New Jersey residents upload cellphone footage of ICE activity anywhere in the state.
She said her administration is coordinating with Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport to provide guidance to the public and ensure residents are informed about their rights when encountering federal officers.
“We are also going to be standing up a portal so people can upload all their cell phone videos and alert people,” Sherrill said. “If you see an ICE agent in the street, get your phone out. We want to know.
The governor said the portal is designed to document ICE operations and verify that agents comply with state law.
She criticized what she described as the agency’s lack of transparency and compared its tactics to the “secret police” she encountered while serving in the military.
“They will pick people up. They will not tell us who they are. They will not tell us if they’re here legally. They won’t check,” Sherrill said. “They picked up American citizens. They picked up a five-year-old child. We want documentation, and we are going to make sure we get it.”
In addition to the portal, Sherrill announced that ICE would be prohibited from conducting enforcement actions on state-owned property.
Several municipalities, including Jersey City, have already enacted similar measures, limiting local cooperation with federal authorities, according to NJ101.5.
State officials said reports submitted through the portal will be reviewed by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General to determine whether ICE agents violated state law.
Additional guidance and details about the database are expected in coordination with Acting Attorney General Davenport.
The portal echoes similar initiatives in other states.
New York Attorney General Letitia James launched a comparable system in October, collecting images and videos of ICE operations, and California implemented a similar platform in December.
Sherrill’s proposal, however, places a stronger emphasis on real-time monitoring, prompting concerns over legality, safety, and potential federal preemption challenges, the New Jersey Globe noted.
Meanwhile, New Jersey’s congressional delegation has organized training sessions to teach residents how to document immigration enforcement legally.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) defended the program.
“Their crimes must be recorded for the day when those who have violated our rights face justice,” she said, according to NJ.com.
Supporters argue that the portal increases transparency and accountability, while critics warn it represents an unprecedented escalation in state-level opposition to federal immigration enforcement.
Opponents also caution it could encourage vigilantism, interfere with lawful operations, or endanger bystanders.
Regardless of perspective, Sherrill’s announcement signals a more assertive, confrontational approach toward ICE, one likely to attract both national attention and legal scrutiny in the weeks ahead.
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