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NJ Dem gubernatorial candidates vow to impede ICE pursuit of illegal aliens

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New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidates vowed to help illegal immigrants avoid President Donald Trump’s ICE raids during the Garden State’s first primary debate of the year.

Five out of six candidates raised their hands when Joey Fox, New Jersey Globe political reporter and debate moderator, asked the Democrats on stage if they “believe that one of the goals of the next governor should be protecting immigrants in New Jersey, even those who are here illegally.”

Rep. Mikie Sherrill did not raise her hand, instead responding, “We should protect people in New Jersey, especially with the Constitution.”

NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR HOUSES MIGRANT AT HIS HOUSE, TELLS FEDS ‘GOOD LUCK’ TRYING TO GET HER

ICE agents arrested seven illegal immigrants during a workforce operation raid. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

The question sparked less of a debate and more of a united front as candidates vowed to stand up to Trump, committed to comprehensive immigration reform, and vowed to prioritize humanity in the deportation process.

TRUMP SIGNS LAKEN RILEY ACT INTO LAW AS FIRST LEGISLATIVE VICTORY IN NEW ADMINISTRATION

President Donald Trump signs the Laken Riley Act at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

However, candidates found shakier ground when discussing the Laken Riley Act, the first bill Trump signed into law during his second term that detains illegal immigrants who are accused of committing dangerous crimes.

“If you are a murderer, a criminal, a rapist, if you’re breaking into people’s homes in the middle of the night with a gun while the kids are sleeping, and you’re undocumented, you shouldn’t be here. You shouldn’t be in the state, you shouldn’t be in this country.” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who voted in support of the Laken Riley Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Despite Gottheimer’s support for the act, he was careful to distinguish “innocent undocumented people” from those who commit violent crimes. “When I’m governor, I’m going to use the full force of the state to stop” Trump from rounding up “innocent undocumented people” at restaurants, churches and schools, the congressman clarified.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer speaks after the Democratic gubernatorial debate at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, on Feb. 2, 2025. (AP/Mike Catalini)

The Trump administration doesn’t recognize such a distinction. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last Tuesday that anyone in the United States illegally is considered a criminal.

“They illegally broke our nation’s laws, and, therefore, they are criminals, as far as this administration goes,” Leavitt said in a now viral moment. “I know the last administration didn’t see it that way, so it’s a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks our immigration laws as a criminal. But that’s exactly what they are.”

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop didn’t share Gottheimer’s support for the Laken Riley Act, calling it “dangerous.”

“The Laken Riley Act served to undermine the authority of the attorney general here in New Jersey,” Fulop said. “It is a very dangerous piece of legislation as it relates to autonomy of the governor and the attorney general here, and it should not have been supported.”

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka speaks after the Democratic debate in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, on Feb. 2, 2025. (AP photo/Mike Catalini)

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a vocal opponent of the ICE raids authorized in his city during Trump’s first week in office, took opposition to the bill a step further.

“You can’t say you support immigrants in New Jersey but vote for the Laken Riley Act,” Baraka said. “We need to stop having this conversation about people being murderers and killers and rapists and criminals. We know that’s a lie. There is no crime wave of immigrants in New Jersey.”

Baraka went as far as to say Trump’s political agenda is rooted in “White supremacy and racism.”

“It’s interesting that we keep saying that people are here illegally when we keep moving the goalpost,” Baraka said. “If we take away all of the pathways that people become documented citizens of the United States and then say they’re illegal, it’s a problem. We cannot risk the Fourth and 14th Amendment to push this political agenda that Donald Trump has really based in White supremacy and racism.”

“It is wrong to sit up here and have a debate about crime that immigrants create which we know is not true. The crime is making sure people don’t have access to the American dream because of what they look like, the country they came from, the language that they speak, and the zip code that they live in. We know that’s what’s happening, and we have to stop it now,” Baraka continued.

Officers from Border Patrol and the FBI conduct immigration enforcement in El Paso, Texas on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (FBI)

Former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney said New Jersey should stand up to Trump’s deportations, emphasizing the lack of legal search warrants in these ICE raids. However, Sweeney agreed that someone with a criminal record who enters the United States or “someone that breaks the law in this country shouldn’t be in this country,” calling it a “privilege.”

“With Donald Trump, we all should stand and oppose what Donald Trump’s doing. He’s breaking the law. He’s doing it illegally. He’s doing it without legal search warrants. It’s horrible what he’s doing.” Sweeney said.

“I support what President Barack Obama and Sen. Joe Biden did. Both of those presidents happen to be Democrats who deported more people than Donald Trump ever did, but they did it with humanity and compassion and they did it the right way. We don’t want to round up people that haven’t done anything wrong, but people that broke the law in this country, I’m sorry they need to leave it… They’re breaking the laws, and we should hold them accountable,” Sweeney added.

Former state Senate President Steve Sweeney speaks after the Democratic debate on Feb. 2, 2025. (AP photo/Mike Catalini)

New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller echoed Sweeney’s distaste for Trump’s inhumane deportations, telling New Jerseyans they should be scared.

“They’re coming for all of us, and that should scare every single one of us. That’s unacceptable. That’s what we stand up and fight back against,” Spiller said.

Despite taking a hard line against President Trump, the Democratic candidates recognized immigration reform as a necessity.

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“I think that what’s missing in the conversation so many times is basic humanity,” Sherrill said. “We desperately need comprehensive immigration reform. We need to make sure people have a pathway to citizenship who are here, who are working hard, who are paying taxes, DACA recipients, TPS recipients. We also need better border security. We need to know what’s coming across our border.”

February 3, 2025
Canaian leaders vow to remove American alcohol from shelves

Economist Steve Moore and former member of White House Council of Economic advisors Tomas Philipson discuss President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign countries on ‘The Bottom Line.’

Multiple Canadian provinces are planning to remove American-made alcohol from store shelves in response to sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

On Saturday, Trump signed off on additional 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, which goes into effect Tuesday, as well as a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. Energy resources from Canada will have a lower 10% tariff, according to the White House.

In response, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation will remove all U.S. alcohol from store shelves starting Tuesday, including beer, wine, spirits and coolers.

MEXICO AGREES TO DEPLOY 10,000 TROOPS TO US BORDER IN EXCHANGE FOR TARIFF PAUSE

President Donald Trump talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a G-7 Summit welcome ceremony, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Charlevoix, Canada. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci / AP Images)

In a statement, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that he told the Liquor Control Board of Ontario to pull U.S. alcohol from stores starting Tuesday.

“Every year, LCBO sells nearly $1 billion worth of American wine, beer, spirits and seltzers. Not anymore,” Ford said. “Starting Tuesday, we’re removing American products from LCBO shelves. As the only wholesaler of alcohol in the province, LCBO will also remove American products from its catalogue (sic) so other Ontario-based restaurants and retailers can’t order or restock U.S. products.”

In an interview with Global News, British Columbia Premier David Eby said he directed the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch to stop purchasing American liquor from Republican-led states.

HOW TRUMP’S TARIFFS CLOSED THE LOOPHOLE USED BY CHINESE RETAILERS

Trucks pass over the Blue Water Bridge at the border crossing with the US in Sarnia, Ontario on Monday. President Donald Trump said he will discuss the punishing tariffs he has levied on Canada and Mexico with both countries on Monday, after arguing (GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew called Trump’s tariffs “an attack on Canadians.”

“We support the federal response to these tariffs and here in Manitoba, we’re stopping the sale of American products at Manitoba liquor marts,” he said. “How you choose to spend your money is one of the most important decisions you as a consumer can make. There are plenty of great Manitoba breweries and distilleries to support instead.”

Kinew directed the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries (MBLL) to stop the sale of American products in the province and to pull American products off the shelves of liquor marts and stop ordering American alcohol.

Quebec Premier François Legault said his province will fight the tariffs, the CBC reported. He said his government has asked the liquor board, the Société des alcools du Quebec (SAQ), to remove all American products from its shelves starting Tuesday.

Canadian Energy and Resource Minister Jonathan Wilkinson on the relationship with the U.S., and trade conversations between Prime Minister Trudeau and President Donald Trump.

“Today, Mr. Trump has decided to attack us. We have to stand up, we have to fight to protect our economy, to protect our jobs,” Legault told reporters Saturday night, the report said.

Trump has long blamed Canada and Mexico for failing to prevent the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the United States and has said both countries take advantage of U.S. trade policy.

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In exchange for a one-day delay of the tariffs, Mexico has agreed to deploy 10,000 troops to the southern border, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday. Trump and Sheinbaum spoke on Monday and agreed that Mexico will do more to combat drug trafficking into the U.S., and that the U.S. will step up efforts to block the flow of firearms into Mexico.

Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were expected to speak Monday.

February 3, 2025
American Airlines plane crash: Kansas lawmakers vow to find answers

Kansas’ entire congressional delegation is vowing to find answers for the families grieving loved ones after the deadly crash of a flight from Wichita to Washington D.C., which officials have said left no survivors.

A Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines PSA commercial jet that was moments from landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport Wednesday night, temporarily halting all flights in and out of the small but critically located airport.

“Our prayers are with the families and friends of those affected by the tragic plane crash that occurred in our nation’s capital. South Central Kansas is a close community, and it’s likely that many of us directly or indirectly know people who were on Flight 5342 on Jan. 29,” the lawmakers’ joint written statement said.

VIDEO SHOWS DC PLANE CRASH INVOLVING AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT, BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER

Rep. Ron Estes, left, and Sen. Roger Marshall, right, were part of Kansas’ congressional delegation statement on the tragic American Airlines PSA collision. (Getty Images)

“This is a sad day for Kansans and our nation, and this community, steeped in aviation and manufacturing history, will feel the pain of this catastrophe for years to come. We are grateful for the first responders and rescue crews who worked through the night.

“Our focus now is supporting the family and friends of those who perished, including the crew and military personnel, and then getting answers for the grieving individuals who have lost a loved one and making sure this doesn’t happen again.”

It was signed by GOP Kansas senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran, as well as Republican House representatives Ron Estes, Tracey Mann, Derek Schmidt and the delegation’s lone Democrat, Sharice Davids.

Estes represents much of Wichita, where the flight originated.

Moran said in a press conference shortly after midnight Thursday he was familiar with the flight route, having lobbied American Airlines for it to begin last year.

President Donald Trump briefed reporters on the crisis earlier Thursday, saying there were no survivors from the crash.

President Donald Trump briefed the media on the crash. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

Members of Trump’s new Cabinet, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, both promised to find swift answers for the families grieving loved ones after the crash.

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who represents Arlington County, where the airport is located, similarly said he would work toward accountability.

“As the local representative, I want the families to know that our office is available to serve you in any way that we possibly can in this time of grief and transition and loss,” Beyer said at another press conference Thursday morning.

AMERICAN AIRLINES CEO EXPRESSES ‘DEEP SORROW’ AFTER MIDAIR COLLISION

“And then, also, I’d just note that we are deeply grateful for the people who risked their lives last night on a moment’s notice and spent the whole night on the river in the ice and the wind, serving us.”

Beyer added that, through the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) probe into the crash, “we’ve got to make sure that, at the federal level and with the support of Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., we’re doing everything we can to make sure that this does not happen again.”

Six white roses and photographs of victims are displayed at The Skating Club of Boston Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (Charles Krupa/AP Photo)

American Airlines has said 60 passengers and four crew members were aboard the plane, and the airline encouraged any loved ones looking for information to call the numbers on its site.

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U.S. officials are investigating why the Black Hawk helicopter flew into the path of the descending plane, Duffy told reporters.

“I would say the helicopter was aware there was a plane in the area,” he said.

Hegseth said the helicopter was manned by an experienced crew and was undergoing an “annual proficiency training flight.”

Duffy told reporters that while the collision was a highly unusual and tragic event, the two aircraft’s mutual patterns were not atypical.

Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.

Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to [email protected]

January 30, 2025
Putin, Xi vow to ‘deepen’ alliance hours after Trump re-enters the White House

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday pledged to “deepen strategic coordination” in a video call less than a day after President Donald Trump re-entered the White House.

A transcript of the call posted to the Kremlin’s website showed that both Putin and Xi referred to one another as “friends” and vowed to back one another’s strategic interests, no matter the “current global situation.”

“This year, I am ready, together with you, to elevate Chinese-Russian relations to a new level, to counter external uncertainties by preserving stability and resilience of Chinese-Russian relations,” Xi said while addressing Putin.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin holds a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on Jan. 21, 2025. (Gavriil Grigorov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

TRUMP WANTS TO VISIT CHINA AGAIN AFTER HE TAKES OFFICE: REPORT

The pair both vowed to back the U.N.-centered international system ahead of the 80th anniversary this year, and to defend the post-World War II global order – a nod to Putin’s pursuit to reclaim Ukraine in what many have argued is an attempt to re-establish the Soviet Union.

Xi also told Putin about a call he had with Trump on Friday regarding TikTok, trade and Taiwan, according to a report by Reuters.

The Chinese and Russian leaders also reportedly “indicated a willingness to build relations with the United States on a mutually beneficial, mutually respectful basis,” Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters, adding this will happen “if the Trump team really shows interest in this.”

“It was also noted from our side that we are ready for dialogue with the new U.S. administration on the Ukrainian conflict,” he added.

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping attend a reception during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, Oct. 23, 2024. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via Reuters)

RUSSIA, IRAN TO SEAL PARTNERSHIP TREATY DAYS BEFORE TRUMP TAKES OFFICE

Neither readouts of the call issued by China or Russia directly mentioned Ukraine, though Russia highlighted that Beijing has remained a major supporter of Moscow’s economy as it is the largest consumer of Russian energy resources – a major earner for Putin’s war effort.

“Five years ago, we launched the Power of Siberia gas pipeline together, and today, Russia has become the leading supplier of natural gas to China,” the Kremlin said in a readout.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a Victory Day military parade marking the 79th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II in Moscow. (Tian Bing/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

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Though according to Beijing, Moscow did directly address China’s interests in Taiwan and, according to the readout issued by the Chinese Communist Party, “Russia firmly supports Taiwan as an integral part of China’s territory and firmly opposes any form of ‘Taiwan independence.’”

“I believe that the past year was very good for us,” Putin said. “It can be said confidently that our foreign policy ties and Russia and China’s joint efforts objectively play a major stabilizing role in international affairs.”

January 23, 2025