First Submissions Hit New Jersey ICE Misconduct Portal

By Andre Paras | NJ State House News Service

TRENTON, N.J. – Nearly a month after the governor launched a website for New Jerseyans to report ICE misconduct, the Office of the Attorney General has received approximately 35 “substantive” submissions.

The state-run online portal allows residents to upload photos, videos and reports of federal immigration enforcement activity across the state, part of a broader push to expand immigrant protections.

When Gov. Mikie Sherrill launched the portal on Feb. 11, tensions in U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity were high across the state and nation.

“If you see an ICE agent in the street, get your phone out. We want to know,” Sherrill said four days after American citizen Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis.

The portal’s launch comes with a clash in the current political landscape, with sharp disagreements in the state over public safety, federal authority and immigration protections.

“I think we’re definitely on the right path but definitely still have a lot more room to grow in terms of what we can do to protect our residents in the state, with this federal administration and rogue ICE agents acting in their own interests,” said Jason Ajiake, New Jersey political director of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.

According to 2023 data from Migration Policy Institute, there’s an estimated unauthorized population of 476,000 in New Jersey, amongst 13.7 million in the United States.

In addition to New Jersey’s portal, the county surrounding Minneapolis opened its own reporting website on March 2. California’s Attorney General launched a digital form to report misconduct by federal agents in December.

In the first months of 2026, New Jersey lawmakers have explored a number of initiatives to limit ICE activity. In February, Sherrill signed an executive order limiting federal immigration enforcement on nonpublic state property, and launched the “Know Your Rights” website.

Under Sherrill’s order, immigration agents are barred from using state-owned facilities as staging grounds for enforcement operations, requiring them to present a judicial warrant in order to access private areas.

The plan has drawn some negative reactions from political opponents.

“Public safety isn’t a punchline, and it shouldn’t be unveiled on a late-night comedy show for applause,” Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio said. “It should be crafted with facts, responsibility and respect for the people we trust to keep us safe.”

The new reporting system comes with a simple design model that’s accessible for any resident who witnesses federal immigration activity.

To file a report, users are asked to:

• Enter basic details about the incident, including the date, time and location.
• Describe what was observed, such as the amount of agents, vehicles or the nature of the enforcement action.
• Upload any supporting evidence as media files including photos, videos or documents.
• Submit the report for review by the state.

Each submission is reviewed by attorneys or investigators from the Division of Criminal Justice or Division on Civil Rights, according to the Attorney General’s office, to identify potential civil-rights issues, federal misconduct or enforcement patterns.