March 17, 2026
By Eda Aktas
Staff Writer
In response to increasing activity from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed an executive order on Feb. 11 that prevents ICE agents from accessing, entering or using restricted areas of state property, such as child care centers, government offices, residential medical facilities and state university dorms, unless authorized by a judicial warrant.
Freshman Maryam Iqbal said she shares Sherrill’s concerns about ICE.
“ICE is just a lesson for people to see how not to carry [out] deportations,” Iqbal said. “Deportations used to be about kicking out felons, not raiding preschools.”
Iqbal said ICE’s actions are harmful and have done nothing good for the United States.
“The whole idea of immigrating here and the American Dream is so important and so glorified, and the way ICE is moving now, I think the grace of it all is getting lost,” Iqbal said.
Junior Gabriel Campos said ICE is destroying neighborhoods.
“Even when [ICE agents] are acting within the law, the law is being used as a means of enacting violence on already marginalized communities,” Campos said.
He said, especially in New Jersey, where about 24.2% of the state’s residents are foreign-born, according to the American Immigration Council, ICE’s effect on students is disastrous.
“[Some students think,] ‘How am I expected to perform the best, academically, when there’s a concentration camp waiting for me?’” Campos said.
As part of the governor’s actions, on Feb. 12, the state launched a “Know Your Rights Information Hub” website, available in 22 languages, to inform residents of their rights when engaging with ICE agents. The website includes a reporting portal where the public can upload photos, videos and written reports to help track ICE activity. Information uploaded to the portal will not be shared with the public, and its purpose is to hold ICE agents accountable.
Campos said he believes the portal will be ineffective in helping immigrants.
“America has, in recent history, been trying to crack down on securing its borders. It is not just President Trump who has been the catalyst for mass deportation.”
“It would be a better idea if Sherrill endorses the rest of the Immigrant Trust Act,” Campos said. “Sherrill can do a lot more for the community if she signed the rest of this package, which included bills that made it illegal for immigration enforcement to take data and digital information to target immigrant communities.”
Junior Nicholas Rizzo said he recognizes why some people, especially those who have close relationships with undocumented immigrants, have strong opinions about ICE.
“I understand why they would be upset. However, it is important to understand that America should be enforcing its laws on illegal immigration, as this prioritizes American citizens’ best interests and safety,” Rizzo said.
He said most media is portraying ICE inaccurately.
“America has, in recent history, been trying to crack down on securing its borders. It is not just President Trump who has been the catalyst for mass deportation. In fact, Barack Obama deported over 3 million undocumented immigrants,” Rizzo said.
He said students must be informed about ICE and its actions through their educators.
“We have phenomenal history teachers at LHS,” Rizzo said. “Most of them are capable of teaching these topics and acknowledging both sides of the argument, as well as providing enough information to their students, so that they are knowledgeable enough to draw their own conclusions, based on their political, economic and social views.”
