Cape May County Sheriff, Govt. Sue NJ AG Over Immigration Policy

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ — Cape May County Sheriff Robert Nolan and the County of Cape May filed a lawsuit Tuesday against New Jersey's attorney general over his immigration directive. County officials have opposed Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewel's decision to limit the ways local law enforcement can assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The lawsuit claims Grewal endangered public safety in the county by restricting ways law enforcement can communicate with ICE officials. The county's legal action follows a months-long feud with state officials over New Jersey's immigration policy, which Grewel issued last November. Read more: NJ Imposes New Rules On Turning Over Unauthorized Immigrants

Grewal announced last month that the state would block local and county law enforcement agencies from entering into so-called 287(g) agreements with ICE. The agreements allow some local officers to perform certain immigration law functions.

Nolan had an agreement with ICE that pertained only to individuals in the Cape May County Jail, officials said. The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office was the only other NJ county with a 287(g) agreement with ICE when Grewal announced the prohibition last month.

“The purpose of the Immigrant Trust Directive was clear: to draw a bright, clear line between federal immigration authorities, who enforce federal civil immigration law, and state and local law enforcement officers, who don’t,” Grewal spokesperson Lee Moore told WHYY. “This distinction is vital, because it provides assurance to victims and witnesses that they can report crimes to New Jersey’s law enforcement officers without fear of deportation.”

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Ocean City Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.