Federal Judge dismisses Sanctuary State challenge

Hon Freda L. Wolfson, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit by the Cape May and Ocean Counties challenging the Murphy Administration’s Immigration Trust Directive.

NJ Attorney General Gurbir Grewal celebrated the decision on twitter.

#Breaking: Federal judge upholds NJ’s “Immigrant Trust Directive,” reaffirming our ability to draw a bright, clear line between state & local police officers and federal civil immigration authorities.

A major win as we build trust with historically marginalized communities. pic.twitter.com/wGqgQ13rnO
— AG Gurbir Grewal (@NewJerseyOAG) July 29, 2020

Judge Wolfson ruled that New Jersey is within its constitutional authority to regulate its own law enforcement agencies. The directive does not prevent federal authorities from enforcing immigration law.

“New Jersey has made the decision not to cooperate with the enforcement of federal immigration law in an effort to strengthen the relationship between its communities and police, and shore up more effective enforcement of state criminal law. That choice is a clear exercise of the State’s police power to regulate the conduct of its own law enforcement agencies,” U.S. Chief District Judge Freda L. Wolfson ruled on Wednesday, according to SaveJersey.

“There is no indication that Congress, in enacting the [Immigration and Nationality Act], sought to usurp that power. As such, the federal government cannot strong arm the State into doing its own bidding,” Wolfson continued.

Counties can continue to challenge the Immigration Trust Directive in State Court, Judge Wolfson ruled, according to NorthJersey.com