Cape May County officials are preparing for a legal challenge against the state attorney general and his recent directive that prohibits corrections officers at its jail from screening inmates and referring them to federal immigration officials.

County Freeholders have reached out to Michael Testa Jr., an attorney based in Vineland, to contest Attorney General Gurbir Grewal's Immigrant Trust Directive, which restricts local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration operations, Insider NJ reported on Friday.

Last month, Grewal announced that he was barring law enforcement throughout the state from participating in a U.S. program that trains corrections officers to determine the immigration status of jail inmates and then "flag" them for federal action.

The AG's decision effectively called for the end of the program, known as 287 (g) at the Cape May County and Monmouth County Sheriff's Office. They were the only two law enforcement agencies in the state who had active contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to participate in 287 (g). The AG gave the sheriffs seven days to wind down the program at their respective jails.

"The Murphy Administration's attack on our county threatens the safety of our residents and seeks to compel us to disobey federal law,'' said Cape May County Freeholder Director Gerry Thornton in a statement published in Insider NJ. "As duly elected officials in Cape May County, we took an oath to uphold the US and NJ Constitutions. We will not allow Governor Murphy and Attorney General Grewal to bully us into becoming a Sanctuary County, not now, not ever."

Calls to Cape May County Sheriff Robert Nolan were not immediately returned Friday.

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said after Grewal's announcement that he would also pursue legal remedies.

Both county sheriffs have moved to suspend the program at their jails for now. A memo sent from Donald Lombardo, the warden of the Cape May county jail, to all correctional staff last week said that the 287 (g) program will be suspended "until a disposition is reached by a court of competent jurisdiction" beginning Oct. 4.

Monmouth County Undersheriff Ted Freeman also indicated in a memo sent to some of his staff last week, that it would also be in compliance with the directive, effective Oct. 4.

Leland Moore, the spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, declined comment on any potential legal challenges.

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Both departments renewed agreements with ICE for 10 years earlier this year, defying the Immigrant Trust Directive, issued by Grewal in November and which took effect in March, which required state approval for such renewals. The move drew a sharp response from the AG’s office, which demanded justifications as to why the partnerships should be allowed to continue.

Last week, when Grewal announced the blocking of 287 (g) across the state during a press conference in Newark, he said that nothing in the directive would provide "sanctuary" to criminals and said 287 (g) program wasn't necessary at the jails. He said under the Immigrant Trust Directive officers can notify ICE about an inmate who has been charged with serious or violent offenses.

In the most serious cases, law enforcement in New Jersey has notified ICE about undocumented immigrants facing criminal charges, and that will continue, the AG said during the press conference.

The state's Immigrant Trust Directive allows any state, county, or local law enforcement agency to notify ICE of a detainee who has final orders of removal, or who has been charged with violent or serious offenses such as murder, rape, arson or assault. The updates announced by Grewal add other categories, including additional gun crimes and domestic violence offenses.

Monsy Alvarado is the immigration reporter for NorthJersey.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news about one of the hottest issues in our state and country, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: alvarado@northjersey.com Twitter: @monsyalvarado