TRENTON, N.J. — Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio sharply criticized Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Friday over the administration’s announcement of a new state-run online portal that encourages residents to upload images of federal immigration agents operating in New Jersey.
DiMaio said the portal undermines law enforcement and public safety, calling it part of a broader effort to demoralize officers and make communities less safe. Sherrill announced the plan during a Wednesday night appearance on The Daily Show on Comedy Central.
“For years now, New Jersey has been moving in the wrong direction and making it harder for law enforcement to do their jobs and easier for criminals to exploit the system,” DiMaio, R-Warren, said. “This portal continues that trend by targeting the people whose job it is to protect our communities.”
DiMaio said public safety policy should prioritize stopping violent crime and de-escalating tensions, rather than inflaming them or politicizing law enforcement.
“Public safety isn’t a punchline, and it shouldn’t be unveiled on a late-night comedy show for applause,” he said. “It should be crafted with facts, responsibility and respect for the people we trust to keep us safe.”
He warned that the portal could be misused by activists seeking to provoke confrontations rather than protect public safety.
“Encouraging people to film and upload law enforcement activity risks escalating tensions and endangering both officers and the public,” DiMaio said. “That puts everyone at risk.
“At a time when leaders should be lowering the temperature, this piles on. It sends a message that enforcing the law is something to be shamed instead of respected,” he added.
DiMaio said federal immigration agents have removed dangerous offenders from New Jersey communities, including individuals convicted of sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and other violent crimes.
“ICE has taken real criminals off our streets — offenders convicted of serious crimes against children and violent acts that put innocent lives at risk,” he said. “These are not abstract policy debates. These are real victims.”
He cited recent arrests by federal immigration authorities in New Jersey, including Brallan Josue Garcia-Castro of Honduras, Anthony Agduma of the Philippines and Rodrigo Roman Basantes of Ecuador, all convicted of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Authorities have also arrested Raul Luna Perez, whose actions led to a fatal crash in Lakewood that killed an immigrant mother and her 11-year-old daughter, DiMaio said.
“Our focus should be on protecting families, restoring respect for law enforcement, and making our communities safer,” DiMaio added. “This does the opposite.”
