Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is joined by his wife Melinda as he speaks during a news conference, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, in Raritan, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
"The blame goes to Governor Murphy, Attorney General Platkin, and the Democrat legislature for mandating absurd policies like the Immigrant Trust Directive," the Republican continued.
"We will be partners with the Trump Administration in fixing our immigration system and restore law and order," he said if elected governor in November, as Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy will be termed out of office after serving two terms.
The email from Callahan, which was obtained from the Ciattarelli campaign and reviewed by Fox News Digital, said his team is not legally permitted to follow "Outstanding Administrative Warrants of Removal from the United States," as 27,000 "hits" were recently added to the National Crime Information Center.
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Message sent by New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan on immigration policies obtained by Fox News Digital. (New Jersey State Police, courtesy of Jack Ciattarelli )
The directive from the Attorney General’s Office says authorities in New Jersey, at any level of government besides federal, can help federal law enforcement "when the sole purpose of that assistance is to enforce federal civil immigration law."
In the state governor's race, many of the Democratic candidates' views differ from the Trump administration's illegal immigration policies.
During a recent debate, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Rep. Josh Gottheimer disagreed on the Laken Riley Act, federal bipartisan legislation signed by President Donald Trump that expands the crimes that could get somebody into custody of the Department of Homeland Security.
New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin speaks during a news conference at his office, Dec. 12, 2023, in Trenton. (AP Photo/Mike Catalini, File)
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"Our number one priority is keeping New Jerseyans safe. The Immigrant Trust Directive ensures that New Jersey police officers spend their time tackling pressing public safety issues like violent crime, gun violence, and drug trafficking, while also ensuring that victims of crime and witnesses can safely come forward to police and report crime regardless of their immigration status," he stated. "Under the Immigrant Trust Directive, state and local law enforcement have and will continue to work with federal authorities to remove violent criminals from this country. Plain and simple, there is no 'sanctuary' for criminals in New Jersey."
"The directive was drafted and is enforced with the support and cooperation of law enforcement leaders. The Office of the Attorney General, the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey, and the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, together, recently released guidance for law enforcement on the Immigrant Trust Directive and its importance," the attorney general continued.
Murphy’s office and DHS did not comment in time for publication.
Cameron Arcand is a politics writer at Fox News Digital in Washington D.C. Story tips can be sent to Cameron.Arcand@Fox.com and on Twitter: @cameron_arcand
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-candidate-rips-blue-state-directive-meddling-police-forces-cooperation-with-ice-handcuffed