Cape May County Sheriff Bob Nolan tours the Cape May County jail in January 2020.
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — Cape May County Sheriff Robert Nolan joined almost 275 of the country’s sheriffs from 39 states in signing a letter to President Joe Biden this week urging him to make the border more secure and decrease the flow of illegal immigration.
Nolan was one of three New Jersey sheriffs who signed the letter, along with Sheriff Frederick W. Brown of Hunterdon County and Sheriff Charles Miller of Salem County.
“The immigration policies set forth by President Biden are endangering residents across the country and here in Cape May County,” Nolan said in a statement that did not cite specific examples. “This is why I joined with hundreds of other sheriffs from throughout the United States to share our concerns for these plans which hinder law enforcement’s ability to serve and protect their communities.”
Nolan is a frequently outspoken proponent of more restrictive immigration policy. Cape May was one of two counties in the state to sue Attorney General Gurbir Grewal over the 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive, which limited counties’ ability to cooperate with federal immigration authorities when dealing with those arrested on criminal charges. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit last summer.
Cape May County Sheriff Robert Nolan was in Washington, D.C., this week, consulting with U.S…
Biden must act now before the nation’s public safety resources are overwhelmed with the criminal side effects of illegal immigration, including transnational gangs, guns, dangerous drugs and human trafficking, the sheriffs said in their letter.
“Both the Barack Obama and Donald Trump administrations recognized the threats and dangers presented by illegal immigration. It is critically important that you see it as well,” the sheriffs wrote.
Cape May County Commissioner Director Gerald M. Thornton echoed his support for Nolan and the letter.
“I also have concerns about all the children being put in harm’s way and risking their lives without a parent traveling with them to reach the United States,” Thornton said in a statement. The U.S. government picked up nearly 19,000 children traveling alone across the Mexican border in March, authorities said Thursday, the largest monthly number ever recorded. “It isn’t clear where these individuals will go and what burdens it will place upon all 50 states.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
GALLERY: A tour of the new Cape May County Jail
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Sheriff Nolan (center) speaking from inside a storage room.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Individuals who turn themselves in or are transported to facility come to this loading dock first.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. (l-r) Officer Patrick Netherby, Sherriff Bob Nolan, and Captain Charles Magill discuss prisoner admittance protocols inside the holding area.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Prison handbook to be issued to a new inmate.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Officer Patrick Netherby inside the laundry room.
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The Cape May County Jail now holds two prisoners for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under a program recently extended for 10 years that allows county law enforcement to act as ICE agents.Â
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Cape May County Sheriff Bob Nolan tours the Cape May County jail in January 2020.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. (l-r) Officer Patrick Netherby, Captain Charles Magill, and Sheriff Bob Nolan in the enclosed yard.
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Capt. Charles Magill stands inside a medium security cell at the new Cape May County Correctional Facility. The jail has five housing units that each can hold a maximum of 64 inmates.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. (l-r) Sheriff Bob Nolan, Officer Patrick Netherby, and Captain Charles Magill.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. (l-r) Sheriff Bob Nolan, Captain Charles Magill, and Officer Patrick Netherby inside the holding area.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Captain Charles Magill and Officer Patrick Netherby inside the laundry room.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. (l-r) Officer Patrick Netherby, Captain Charles Magill, and Sheriff Bob Nolan in the enclosed yard.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. (l-r) Officer Patrick Netherby and Sheriff Nolan inside the laundry room.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. A dormitory from the women’s unit.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Medium security cell #2.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Medium security cells.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Sheriff Bob Nolan stands inside of a padded solitary holding cell.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. The visitor's entrance.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Fresh paint blocks off an area of the floor, designating it as an area that prisoners be made aware of as a boundry.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. (l-r) Officer Patrick Netherby, Sherriff Bob Nolan, and Captain Charles Magill discuss prisoner admittance protocols inside the holding area.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Officer Patrick Netherby descends the stairs from the mezzanine level in the minimum security area.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Minimum security cells.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Captain Charles Magill.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Sheriff Nolan (center) speaking from inside a storage room.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. (l-r) Warden Donald Lombardo and Sheriff Bob Nolan
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Minimum security unit - a handbook issued to all occupants of the prison.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Officer Patrick Netherby stands on the mezzanine level of the minimum security area. Prisoners are not allowed to loiter in this area.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Sheriff Bob Nolan inside a secured shower area.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. A cell in the medical wing.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Captain Charles Magill inside a medium security cell.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Captain Charles Magill stands by a bank of phones on a wall in the holding area.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Sheriff Bob Nolan inside the facility's laundry room.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Minimum security unit.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. (l-r) Warden Donald Lombardo and Sheriff Bob Nolan
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Officer Patrick Netherby inside the laundry room.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. The kitchen.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. (l-r) Sherriff Bob Nolan, and Captain Charles Magill discuss prisoner admittance protocols inside the holding area.
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Officer Patrick Netherby, Sheriff Robert Nolan and Capt. Charles Magill stand in the facility’s laundry room.
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Digital phones at the Cape May County Correctional Facility allow visitors to see and speak to inmates. People also can call inmates from outside the jail for $10.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. A dentist office in the medical wing.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Officer Patrick Netherby stands on the mezzanine level of the minimum security area. Prisoners are not allowed to loiter in this area.
010819_nws_capemayjail
On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Officer Patrick Netherby stands on the mezzanine level of the minimum security area. Prisoners are not allowed to loiter in this area.
010819_nws_capemayjail
On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Sheriff Bob Nolan inside the holding area.
010819_nws_capemayjail
The new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press.
010819_nws_capemayjail
On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Minimum security unit.
010819_nws_capemayjail
On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. (l-r) Officer Patrick Netherby, Captain Charles Magill, and Sheriff Bob Nolan in the enclosed yard.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. (l-r) Denis Brown of the Freeholders office speaks with Sheriff Nolan.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Sheriff Bob Nolan standing by a bank of digital phones used by the inmates inside their common area.
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A medium security housing unit has doors on the cells but inmates will be able to use the common area for most of the day.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Sheriff Bob Nolan inside a secured shower area.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Officer Patrick Netherby inside a storage room.
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On January 7th, in Cape May Court House, the new Cape May County Correctional Facility is opened to members of the press. Officer Patrick Netherby inside the laundry room.
Vincent Jackson
Staff Writer
Twenty years as a staff writer in the features department, specializing in entertainment and the arts at The Press of Atlantic City.
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