By Matt Rooney
We’re living in interesting times, Save Jerseyans, featuring even stranger bedfellows.
On Friday, the Sherrill Administration announced a federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration (specifically ICE and Homeland Security) over a planned ICE detention facility located inside the Republican-controlled Morris County suburb. The Township is teaming with the state on this one. The Township’s leadership has complained loudly in recent weeks about a variety of issues ranging from an alleged lack of collaboration to the potential impact on its sewer system.
The AG’s office naturally represents the state, while the Township is represented by James Bryce of Murphy McKeon. That’s the law firm of Roxbury Solicitor Anthony Bucco who also happens to be the Republican minority leader in the New Jersey State Senate.
A copy of the complaint is embedded below:
roxbury-federal-court-ICE-complaintBoth the AG and Township (which is represented exclusively by Republicans on council) allege that DHS failed “to consult state and local officials also resulted in DHS’s selection of a site that is inappropriate for a mass detention facility—violating the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) in the process.”
ICE previously pushed back on this narrative when it was advanced by Cory Booker in a Senate committee hearing.
“@SenBooker is either lying or uninformed,” the agency declared on X. “ICE officials have met with the mayor, the city manager, AND city council members of Roxbury, NJ, to discuss the purchasing and utilization of an industrial warehouse as a detention facility.”
Governor Sherrill and AG Davenport addressed the lawsuit during a Friday presser:
LIVE NOW: Join Attorney General Davenport and me as we make an announcement. https://t.co/Dnhz9nPjEv
— Governor Mikie Sherrill (@GovSherrillNJ) March 20, 2026
