County Responds to Incorrect Designation as a Sanctuary Jurisdiction

On May 30, 2025 Warren County was incorrectly included in a list of states and local jurisdictions deemed Sanctuary Jurisdictions by the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Warren County hired special counsel to conduct an audit concerning the designation, which concluded DHS's designation of Warren County defying federal immigration law was incorrect and inconsistent with the policies and procedures implemented by Warren County.

The DHS list has since been updated with Warren County removed from the list.

Warren County has always cooperated, and will continue to cooperate, with the DHS, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and all federal immigration laws.

The Warren County Correctional Facility has a good working relationship with the New Jersey Operations Bureau of Homeland Security, and has worked with ICE on the transfer of custody of detainees to Homeland Security.

Additionally, the Warren County Board of County Commissioners has taken the following actions:

• Resolution 109-25 unanimously adopted Feb. 26, 2025 calls upon Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin to uphold their oaths of office and exercise their obligation under the laws of the United States and State of New Jersey with regard to the unprecedented levels of illegal immigration.
• Resolution 680-24 unanimously adopted Dec. 11, 2024 supports strengthening state and federal cooperation on immigration enforcement, acknowledging the importance of such measures in upholding public safety and the rule of law.
• Resolution 416-19 unanimously adopted August 28, 2019 supports Ocean County’s litigation challenged then NJ Attorney General Gurbir Grewal’s Enforcement Directive NO. 2018-6, which states that New Jersey’s law enforcement officers are not responsible for enforcing civil immigration violations except in narrowly defined circumstances, and such responsibilities instead fall to the federal government and those operating under its authority.

Click here to see the list of Sanctuary jurisdictions identified by the federal government.