By: Michael Matthews | Publish Date: March 31st, 2026
This week, Governor Sherrill signed three immigration-related bills. One of the bills bars law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, from wearing masks in New Jersey. It bans them from hiding their faces and requires them to identify themselves before making an arrest.
A second bill codifies the Immigration Trust Directive, limiting state and local police from cooperating with federal agents. A third bill prevents state agencies from sharing a person’s immigration status with federal authorities without a judicial warrant.
“The federal government will likely challenge the new laws,” Sherrill said to CBS, “but the state is prepared to defend them.
For information on how to interact with ICE, reference our article on the topic.
She also signed an executive order calling for tech upgrades to the NJ Transit system to improve safety, performance, and rider satisfaction. The order mandates the creation of a plan to improve riders’ experience. The plan will focus on two areas: lighting and cameras for better public safety at stations and stops, and boosting the digital experience by improving real-time tracking features on the NJ Transit website and mobile app.
“The Executive Order is about delivering cleaner stations, clearer communication and more dependable service across NJ Transit,” Sherrill said on the Jersey Vindicator.
On Friday, Governor Sherrill announced the state has joined three major multistate alliances: the U.S. Climate Alliance, the Governors Public Health Alliance, and the Reproductive Freedom Alliance. These coalitions aim to act on climate change, public health, and protecting reproductive care.
The Climate Alliance is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to clean energy. The Governors Public Health Alliance will focus on strengthening public health infrastructure and policies across the states. The Reproductive Freedom Alliance is dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive healthcare access.
“Working together — from policymaking and litigation to communications — these alliances will help New Jersey respond more swiftly, lower costs for families by expanding our clean energy supply and improving public health outcomes, and extend our impact far beyond state lines,” Sherrill said on the alliances on nj.gov.
For more coverage of the governor’s affairs, check back every Tuesday afternoon with Michael Matthews’ weekly column.
You must be logged in to post a comment.