New Jersey Candidate Threatens Legal Action Over National Guard Deployment
Mikie Sherrill, a candidate for governor in New Jersey, announced on Monday that she would take legal action against the Trump administration if federal troops were sent to the state.
Sherrill, who currently serves New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, made these remarks during a live broadcast at City Hall, responding to questions from the audience in Spanish, which she answered in English.
Some audience members, whose families have escaped the regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, were particularly concerned about what she would do if President Trump ordered federal troops to New Jersey.
The former Navy veteran and federal prosecutor expressed that the military shouldn’t be on the streets under normal circumstances, stating that such actions should only be reserved for serious situations like rebellions or national emergencies. She emphasized that military forces are not trained for policing duties, which should be left to local law enforcement.
“As governor, if Trump were to send troops to our streets, I would strongly oppose it. I would immediately take him to court and demand a halt to this—because I believe it’s illegal. My goal is to ensure the safety of everyone in New Jersey,” Sherrill said.
Sherrill is running against Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli to replace Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, who is nearing the end of his term.
Since Trump returned to the presidency in January, he has sent federal troops to various cities, including Baltimore and Los Angeles, citing the need to address escalating crime in those areas.
In response to the potential deployment in Illinois, city officials in Chicago have already initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration to prevent the deployment of National Guard troops, following a federal judge’s recent ruling that stopped troop movements in Portland, Oregon.
The Trump administration has defended its actions, insisting that the presence of troops is essential to restore order and combat violent crime. However, some officials and critics have accused the administration of overreach, arguing that such federal interventions only exacerbate existing tensions.
Last month, a federal judge cited a similar incident in Los Angeles earlier this year, where federal forces were deployed in connection with protests over immigration issues, asserting that it violated federal law.
