08/27/2026
The Cape May County Board of County Commissioners has unanimously adopted a resolution formally opposing a series of recently enacted New Jersey laws that restrict cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The new measures dangerously limit information-sharing, restrict identification practices and impose new requirements on officers interacting with the public.
The resolution, approved at the August 25 meeting of the Board, declares that the codification of the Immigrant Trust Directive, the Privacy Protection Act, the Safe Communities Act, the Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act (which generally prohibits law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from covering their faces) and related executive actions, raise serious concerns for public safety, officer safety and the rule of law.
“These laws create uncertainty for the men and women who protect our communities every day,” said Cape May County Commissioner Director Leonard C. Desiderio. “When communication, coordination, and information-sharing with federal partners are restricted, we put both public safety and the safety of our first responders at risk. Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility under the Constitution. State policies that obstruct legitimate cooperation invite costly litigation, undermine consistent enforcement, and ultimately give sanctuary to those who threaten our communities. Cape May County stands with our law enforcement officers and with the rule of law. We urge the Governor and the Legislature to repeal these measures promptly and to take decisive action to safeguard the integrity of our elections.”
Cape May County Sheriff Robert A. Nolan, a long-time advocate for voluntary cooperation with federal immigration authorities, strongly supported the Board’s action.
“Law enforcement works best when agencies can communicate and coordinate without artificial barriers,” Sheriff Nolan said. “These state restrictions force local officers to operate with one hand tied behind their backs. They complicate our ability to share critical information, protect officer safety in the field, and remove dangerous individuals who pose a clear threat to the public. I’ve said for years that I am not a supporter of sanctuary policies. Our job is to keep Cape May County residents safe by targeting anyone who commits a serious crime. To best protect the public, we must work closely with our federal partners. Until these laws are changed or repealed, our ability to do that job effectively remains limited. I thank the Board of Commissioners for standing with the men and women in law enforcement.”
The Board cited multiple developments that underscore the practical consequences of these policies, including federal lawsuits filed against New Jersey since March 2026 challenging aspects of the state’s approach, violent unrest and disorder outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark. The danger to law enforcement officers was highlighted by the injury of an ICE officer during an enforcement action in Ocean County earlier this year.
The resolution also highlights the statewide voter-registration failure in which at least 6,600 noncitizens were registered to vote and the related finding that about 75,000 noncitizens are summoned for jury duty in New Jersey each year. The Board of Commissioners calls for a transparent investigation into the scope and causes of the voter-roll problems, suspension of automatic Motor Vehicle Commission registrations until safeguards are strengthened, implementation of a mandatory voter ID requirement, full cooperation with federal authorities, and public reporting of remedial measures.
“Public safety is not a partisan issue,” Commissioner Bobby Barr added. “The residents of Cape May County expect their government to prioritize the safety of law-abiding citizens and the officers who serve them. We will continue to advocate for policies that uphold the Constitution, protect our communities, and restore confidence in the integrity of our elections.”
