Federal court on September 5, 2026 dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice that contested New Jersey’s ban on Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities on nonpublic state property.
The ban originated from an executive order issued by Governor Mikie Sherrill, which prohibited ICE agents from operating on state‑owned sites that are not open to the public. The order applied to facilities such as government buildings, courthouses and other restricted locations.
The DOJ, acting under the Trump administration, brought the case through federal prosecutors, arguing that the governor’s order exceeded state authority and interfered with federal immigration enforcement. The department sought a court order to overturn the ban.
The court’s decision to throw out the lawsuit left the governor’s executive order intact, meaning ICE agents remain barred from the specified nonpublic properties in New Jersey. The ruling also reaffirmed the state’s ability to regulate access to its facilities.
U.S. Representative Seth Moulton was identified in connection with the litigation, and officials from both the state and federal sides noted the outcome as a resolution of the legal dispute. No further appeals were indicated in the filing.
The dismissal marks the latest development in the ongoing tension between state‑level immigration policies and federal enforcement priorities. The case underscores the judicial scrutiny applied when state actions intersect with federal immigration authority.