TRENTON, N.J. (PulseWire) — In a significant move to bolster public safety and accountability, New Jersey's Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill has enacted legislation that bans law enforcement from wearing face coverings, including federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. This order, signed on Wednesday, positions New Jersey as the second state this year to introduce such a law, following Washington state.
Sherrill's administration has been critical of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration tactics, and she stated that this legislation is part of a broader initiative to protect residents. I can’t believe we have to say this, but in the United States of America, we’re not going to tolerate masked roving militias pretending to be well-trained law enforcement agents, she commented.
The new law also mandates officers to display identification before arresting or detaining individuals, a measure intended to enhance transparency and foster better relations between law enforcement and communities.
The legislation is part of a larger package aimed at safeguarding privacy rights and reinforcing trust between public safety agencies and the communities they serve. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security criticized the law, labeling it as unconstitutional, while previously expressing similar sentiments regarding the restrictions implemented in Washington state.
The Trump administration has responded to New Jersey's initiatives with a lawsuit concerning a Feb. 11 executive order prohibiting federal agents from making arrests in nonpublic areas of state property.
