New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced the development of an online portal that allows residents to upload videos documenting interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). An exact launch date for the portal is yet to be released.
The announcement came during an interview Sherrill gave on The Daily Show on Jan. 29 after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti were raised in conversation. Sherrill called the incidents “unacceptable.”
“I knew where this was headed when we started to see [Department of Homeland Security (DHS)] people taking loyalty oaths to the president, not the Constitution,” Sherrill said.
Good was shot and killed by ICE agents on Jan. 7, and Pretti was shot and killed by ICE agents on Jan. 25, both in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Both victims were U.S. citizens.
In response to those shootings, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz encouraged residents to record ICE encounters, saying it will “help us establish a record of exactly what is happening in our communities.”
Sherrill urged residents to record ICE officers in public spaces, citing what she described as a lack of transparency by ICE agents, including agents’ failure to properly identify themselves and verify the citizenship status of individuals they detain.
“We want documentation, and we are going to make sure we get it,” Sherrill said.
New Jersey joins California and New York, which launched similar portals last year to document ICE activity.
Sherrill said the goal of the portal is to inform residents of their rights and keep ICE operations off state-owned properties.
ICE activity has recently been reported in Hoboken and Jersey City.
Supporters of the portal said it provides residents with clearer, more accessible information about ICE activity in their communities.
Opponents, however, said the initiative encourages interference with ICE operations, potentially increasing the risk of harm.
Additional criticism has come from the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. Executive Director Amy Torres said she wants to see stronger state action taken against ICE, rather than simply collecting evidence of their actions.
For students at Seton Hall, opinions on the portal and its effectiveness are mixed but largely positive.
Camila Saenz, a sophomore nursing major, said she views Sherrill as outspoken against ICE and supportive of community involvement in holding agents accountable.
“The only thing [ICE agents] don’t want is to be exposed,” Saenz said.
Saenz said community groups on Facebook and WhatsApp are already monitoring federal agents in New Jersey communities, but said it’s “good to see” the government trying to be more proactive.
Saenz also expressed concern about what she sees as the growing desensitization to violence carried out by federal agents.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just affecting people you don’t know,” she said. “These are people that are my neighbors, these are people that my parents know, these are community friends.”
While Saenz believes the state government should take stronger steps to regulate federal agents, she said similar efforts elsewhere have seen limited success. In California, for example, the “No Secret Police Act,” which bans federal agents from wearing face coverings, has seen little compliance.
“I think it should be up to the state in regards to regulations, but I don’t think that’s how it’s happening right now,” Saenz said.
Because of this, Saenz said community involvement is essential.
“I feel like as a community we should help everybody out,” she said. “It makes me happy when I see people recording them.”
While Saenz emphasized community action and expressed cautious optimism about the portal’s potential, other students were more skeptical about its effectiveness.
Soleille Manasse, a sophomore criminal justice major, said her initial reaction to the online portal was doubtful.
“I understand what [Sherrill’s] trying to do, but it seems like an odd way to get everyone aware as to what’s happening,” Manasse said.
Manasse said the portal’s effectiveness depends on government oversight and public engagement.
“A lot of people don’t take this seriously, so on the portal, there might be a lot of unserious videos uploaded,” she said.
Manasse added that she doesn’t expect the portal to significantly change community behavior.
“I don’t think any more recording is going to happen than what is already happening,” she said. “I’d never use it.”
Despite her reservations, Manasse said it is good to see the government fighting for transparency, especially surrounding ICE agents and their recent actions.
“It was always important, but especially now because lines are getting blurred, so being open and honest on intentions is crucial,” Manasse said.
While Manasse was doubtful that the portal would meaningfully change public behavior, other students saw it as a necessary step toward accountability and safety.
Alex Pacheco, a junior biology major, said he follows politics closely and views the initiative as a positive step.
“Being able to confirm that they are federal workers and what they do makes it feel a little bit safer,” Pacheco said.
Pacheco said government transparency is always essential, “especially when people are in the streets armed with weapons and seemingly have more rights than not just citizens but other federal workers.”
He added that the portal could make residents feel safer and empower them to take action when they witness wrongdoing.
“It’s going to make people more active in fighting against what they believe is wrong,” Pacheco said. “Like snatching people off the streets.”
Solomon Lee is the advertising manager for The Setonian. He can be reached at solomon.lee@student.shu.edu.
