On September 2, an illegal immigrant driver fleeing a targeted ICE operation on Route 130 in North Brunswick ran a red light and struck a Tesla driven by Dr. Penelope Cohen, the wife of East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen. Dr. Cohen suffered a leg injury and was hospitalized before the driver fled on foot. ICE officers later apprehended the suspect, who has been charged with violating U.S. immigration law and remains in custody pending removal proceedings.
Republican officials blame sanctuary policy
GOP Assemblyman Paul Kanitra of Point Pleasant Beach said the crash is a direct result of New Jersey’s sanctuary status, which he claims was codified by Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill shortly after she took office. “This is just the latest in a long line of traffic incidents that wouldn’t occur if New Jersey didn’t have our sanctuary status,” Kanitra told Fox News Digital, adding that Democrats “are unable to even recognize the chaos they’re creating.”
State Senator Mike Testa echoed the criticism, noting that counties such as Cape May and Monmouth have unsuccessfully sought participation in ICE’s 287(g) program. “I think it has only emboldened illegal aliens to engage in illegal behavior,” Testa said. “This illegal alien was stopped lawfully by federal authorities, ran through a red light, fleeing federal authorities and unfortunately ran into the mayor of East Brunswick’s wife.”
Sanctuary directive at the center
The policy under fire is Governor Sherrill’s Immigrant Trust Directive, signed into law on March 25, just two months after she assumed office. The directive bars New Jersey police from stopping, questioning, arresting, or detaining individuals solely on the basis of immigration status and limits local participation in federal civil immigration enforcement. Critics argue that the law forces local law‑enforcement to stand down while federal agents bear the full burden of dangerous immigration enforcement.
Supporters of the directive contend it protects community trust and prevents racial profiling, but opponents point to incidents like the September 2 crash as tangible consequences of limiting local cooperation with ICE.
Impact on local families
Dr. Cohen, a physician, was hospitalized for a leg injury, underscoring how sanctuary policies can affect everyday New Jersey families. “Innocent people like Dr. Cohen pay the price when illegal immigrants feel emboldened to flee federal law enforcement,” said a local resident who asked to remain unnamed.
The incident has reignited calls from Republican lawmakers for the state to reconsider its sanctuary stance and to allow greater local participation in federal immigration enforcement programs.
What’s next?
The driver remains in custody while removal proceedings move forward. Meanwhile, Governor Sherrill has not publicly responded to the latest criticism. The debate over New Jersey’s sanctuary policies is expected to continue as more incidents draw attention to the practical effects of the Immigrant Trust Directive.
Original reporting: KTSA News/Talk (San Antonio) — read the source article.
