NJ Sues to Block Federal Immigration Detention Facility

New Jersey filed a lawsuit Monday alongside the Republican-led township of Roxbury to block a planned federal immigration detention facility, putting the state and an all-GOP local government on the same side of a fight against the Trump administration.

Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Matt Davenport announced the legal action, with Roxbury’s mayor and council describing themselves as in “deep agreement” with the administration’s position. The bipartisan pushback signals how federal immigration enforcement priorities can cut across party lines when local communities feel blindsided by decisions made in Washington.

Sherrill also took direct aim at the Trump administration’s decision to deploy ICE agents to New Jersey airports, calling the move an escalation that threatens residents and disrupts normal operations at major transit hubs the state depends on. New Jersey’s three major airports, including Newark Liberty International, serve millions of passengers annually and function as economic engines for the region.

The confrontation with federal immigration enforcement adds another front to what has become a running battle between Trenton and Washington over how aggressive deportation tactics are applied inside state lines. New Jersey’s congressional delegation has largely opposed the administration’s immigration posture, and the lawsuit gives the state a legal vehicle to press that opposition in court.

On the political calendar, the CD-11 race is drawing early attention after the League of Women Voters announced it had canceled a planned primary debate, citing an inability to reach an agreement with the Mejia campaign. Candidate Hathaway addressed the cancellation publicly, while Mejia separately framed the congressional race around the broader goal of returning Democratic control to the House. Former Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver’s successor in that role, who had been seen as a potential contender, will not enter the June primary, according to NJ Globe, thinning what had been an anticipated field.

In CD-7, Warren County Democrats moved to endorse O’Rourke, giving that candidate an early organizational boost in a district that Republicans currently hold.

County-level party politics are churning across the state heading into primary season. Essex Democrats are backing four new at-large commission candidates following a wave of retirements, though a push by progressive organizers to claim state committee seats fell short. In Hudson County, establishment and progressive Democrats found common ground behind a unified countywide commission ticket, a relative rarity in a county known for factional combat. A Kearny police union leader also entered the commission primary there, and at least one candidate dropped out of another race as new contenders positioned themselves.

In Hunterdon County, a Republican primary challenge is taking shape, with Blazekis announcing a run against incumbent Commissioner Van Doren. In Monmouth County, Castillo is pursuing a write-in path to the commissioner’s race.

Morris County Democrats took an unusual disciplinary step, announcing the removal of all Dover Democratic committee members following a review of conduct during the 2025 election cycle.

Away from the campaign trail, a former Hudson County Parks employee admitted to participating in a bribes and kickback scheme, the latest corruption case to emerge from a county with a long history of such prosecutions.

On the public health front, new data from NJ.com shows more New Jersey parents are opting out of childhood vaccines, a trend that public health officials have flagged as a concern heading into spring. The state has not yet announced any formal policy response.

Election administration is also drawing scrutiny. State officials are weighing whether to warn voters about changes to postmark rules at the U.S. Postal Service, a shift that could affect mail-in ballot deadlines for New Jersey residents. Camden County took a lighter civic touch, launching a contest for a new “I Voted” sticker design.

In Trenton, the Assembly Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee moved forward with discussion on artificial intelligence regulations, with Chair Assemblyman Tully making clear the stakes. “Given the prevalence that AI has in all forms, it’s imperative that we put those safeguards in place to protect New Jersey residents from across a broad spectrum of industries and applications,” Tully said.

The Senate Budget Committee has scheduled hearings on the governor’s spending plan, setting up what figures to be a consequential stretch of the legislative calendar as Sherrill works to consolidate her standing heading into her first full budget cycle.