Bondi’s DOJ Criticized for Misspelling Name in Lawsuit While Defending ICE Agents

The head of the Department of Justice (DOJ) misspelled the name of a prominent official in a lawsuit challenging an executive order issued by New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill that halted warrantless immigration enforcement activities on state properties. The lawsuit, filed by the administration of President Donald Trump, seeks to invalidate the Democratic Governor's order restricting actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The DOJ filed suit on February 23 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey arguing that the order “obstruct and endanger law enforcement."

“States may not interfere deliberately with our efforts to remove illegal aliens and arrest criminals. New Jersey’s sanctuary policies will not stand,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

Court documents contained multiple misspellings of Sherrill's last name, including in the case caption where it appeared as 'Sherill'.

According to the DOJ, Sherrill's order reflects what the agency described as discriminatory policy concerns raised in a separate California federal case involving the identification of ICE agents.

Whistleblowers within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE had disclosed an internal memorandum that authorizes immigration enforcement agents to enter properties without a warrant signed by a judge and to arrest individuals with final orders of removal. A constitutional law expert says the policy likely conflicts with the Fourth Amendment.

The Trump administration also faces allegations that agents forcibly barged into homes without judicial warrant to allegedly facilitate mass deportation of illegal immigrants.

On February 11, Governor Mikie Sherrill issued an executive order barring ICE from using "state property to launch” immigration executive operations without a judicial warrant.

In the order, Sherrill cited “deeply troubling trends in militarized federal civil immigration enforcement in cities and states across the country, which includes the arrests and detention of United States citizens, which also includes children. At times in the dead of the night masked agents unleashing chemical irritants on locals and non-violent protestors.”

In a statement accompanying the order, Sherrill criticized what she described as “lawless action” by the administration. She referenced fatal ICE and Border Protection shootings involving Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota.

“Given ICE’s willingness to disobey the Constitution and violently endanger communities, detaining children, arresting citizens and also killing innocent civilians, I will stand up for New Jerseyans' right to be safe,” Sherrill said.