Gov. Sherrill signs law banning law enforcement from wearing masks in New Jersey

Law enforcement officials, including ICE, are now banned from wearing masks in New Jersey.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a new law on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, requiring law enforcement to reveal their faces during public interactions.

This new legislation comes after Gov. Sherrill signed an executive order last month with the intention of protecting residents from potential misconduct by federal agents. 

Part of that effort was to offer a new online portal for New Jersey residents to report incidents involving federal agents in the state.

Along with the new portal, Gov. Sherrill announced that ICE raids will not be permitted on state property.

NBC10 reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding the new law and a spokesperson provided the following statement:

“Sanctuary politicians attempting to ban our federal law enforcement from wearing masks is despicable and a flagrant attempt to endanger our officers. To be crystal clear: we will not abide by this unconstitutional ban. The Supremacy Clause makes it clear that New Jersey’s sanctuary politicians do not control federal law enforcement.

“This law from sanctuary politicians in New Jersey is irresponsible, reckless, and dangerous. 

“ICE officers wear face coverings for one reason: to protect themselves and their families from real-world threats including agitators. The danger is not hypothetical. Public databases and online “lists” have been created to expose officers’ identities. Today, our ICE law enforcement officers face a more than 1,300% increase in assaults, 3,300% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them. 

To report misconduct by federal agents in New Jersey, you can click here. And to view information about your rights while interacting with federal agents, you can click here.