During a live town hall broadcast on Univision 41 Nueva York, Mikie Sherrill was asked about her response to potential federal troop deployments by President Donald Trump. An audience member, who had fled Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro regime, inquired about the legality of such an action. Sherrill, a former Navy veteran and federal prosecutor, responded by stating that the use of federal troops for policing is not only unconstitutional but also ill-suited for the military’s role. She emphasized that National Guard units are not trained for law enforcement duties and should not be on the streets of any state.
Sherrill’s remarks are part of a larger legal and political debate over the executive branch’s use of military force in domestic affairs. Similar challenges have been mounted in other states, including Illinois, where a lawsuit was filed to block the Trump administration’s planned deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago. In Oregon, a federal court recently ruled that the administration’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles during protests over immigration raids was an illegal act, citing the administration’s willful breach of federal law. These legal battles underscore the growing tensions between the White House and state leaders over the appropriate use of federal resources in addressing urban crime and unrest.
A federal judge’s recent ruling confirmed that the administration had violated federal law by deploying Guard troops to Los Angeles earlier this year. The court’s decision has intensified criticism of Trump’s security policies, with many officials arguing that such actions only exacerbate the situation rather than solve it. As the presidential election approaches, the debate over the role of federal troops in domestic affairs continues to shape the political landscape, with Sherrill’s stance reflecting a broader liberal opposition to what is perceived as an overreach by the executive branch.
Sherr, a former Navy veteran and federal prosecutor, argues that deploying troops to New Jersey would set a dangerous precedent. She believes that such action would not only be illegal but also undermine the principle of states’ rights. Her comments come amid a larger national conversation about the role of the military in policing and the potential for federal overreach. The legal and political battles over these deployments are expected to continue as the midterm elections approach and the nation grapples with issues of crime, disorder, and the balance of power between state and federal governments.