ICE agents arrested seven illegal immigrants during a workforce operation raid. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
But Rep. Mikie Sherrill did not raise her hand, instead responding, "We should protect people in New Jersey, especially with the Constitution."
TRUMP SIGNS LAKEN RILEY ACT INTO LAW AS FIRST LEGISLATIVE VICTORY IN NEW ADMINISTRATION
Rep. Josh Gottheimer speaks after the Democratic gubernatorial debate at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, on Feb. 2, 2025. (AP/Mike Catalini)
The Trump administration doesn’t recognize such a distinction. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last Tuesday that anyone in the United States illegally is considered a criminal.
"They illegally broke our nation’s laws, and, therefore, they are criminals, as far as this administration goes," Leavitt said in a now viral moment. "I know the last administration didn’t see it that way, so it’s a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks our immigration laws as a criminal. But that’s exactly what they are."
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop didn’t share Gottheimer’s support for the Laken Riley Act, calling it "dangerous."
"The Laken Riley Act served to undermine the authority of the attorney general here in New Jersey," Fulop said. "It is a very dangerous piece of legislation as it relates to autonomy of the governor and the attorney general here, and it should not have been supported."
Officers from Border Patrol and the FBI conduct immigration enforcement in El Paso, Texas on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (FBI)
Former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney said New Jersey should stand up to Trump’s deportations, emphasizing the lack of legal search warrants in these ICE raids. However, Sweeney agreed that someone with a criminal record who enters the United States or "someone that breaks the law in this country shouldn't be in this country," calling it a "privilege."
"With Donald Trump, we all should stand and oppose what Donald Trump's doing. He's breaking the law. He's doing it illegally. He's doing it without legal search warrants. It’s horrible what he's doing." Sweeney said.
Former state Senate President Steve Sweeney speaks after the Democratic debate on Feb. 2, 2025. (AP photo/Mike Catalini)
New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller echoed Sweeney’s distaste for Trump’s inhumane deportations, telling New Jerseyans they should be scared.
"They're coming for all of us, and that should scare every single one of us. That's unacceptable. That’s what we stand up and fight back against," Spiller said.
Despite taking a hard line against President Trump, the Democratic candidates recognized immigration reform as a necessity.
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"I think that what's missing in the conversation so many times is basic humanity," Sherrill said. "We desperately need comprehensive immigration reform. We need to make sure people have a pathway to citizenship who are here, who are working hard, who are paying taxes, DACA recipients, TPS recipients. We also need better border security. We need to know what's coming across our border."
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nj-dem-gubernatorial-candidates-vow-impede-ice-pursuit-illegal-aliens