Senator Tony Bucco (R-25) wanted Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport to weigh in on Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s plan to collect New Jerseyan-submitted videos of ICE, sparking a critical disagreement with at least one of his colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

"Do you think that's a good idea?" asked Bucco, who last week issued a statement of objection to Sherrill's initiative.

Davenport told Bucco that it's important to make sure law enforcement acts constitutionally, and evidence helps. "It holds actors accountable for what we have seen come across the country," said the Acting AG.

By way of context, from NJ Spotlight News:

“If you see an ICE agent in the street, get your phone out. We want to know, because they have not been forthcoming,” Sherrill said last week on The Daily Show. “They’ve picked up American citizens. They picked up a 5-year-old child. We want documentation, and we are going to make sure we get it.”

Added Davenport in her conversation with Bucco:

"Talking to AGs across the country, we want to deescalate and protect New Jerseyans as best we can. Given the unconstitutional nature of actions, it is important... for us to be aware and to have evidence that allows us to act stronger."

Bucco pursued.

"Are you concerned some of these folks will be encouraged to get closer, to get the best video posted on the internet?" Some of what they're doing not only puts law enforcement at danger but interferes with law enforcement doing its job, noted the Morris0-based senator.

"I am concerned this is not going to deescalate but escalate the situation," said Bucco.

Clarified Davenport:

"This request to upload things is just so we in law enforcement can have evidence and facts that can be shared - not always for prosecution. ...This portal is meant for documentation."

Bucco complained: "Those videos are escalating the division and the anger. Any resident can file an Opra request and gain access to those videos. It's something to consider. I am very, very concerned that we are escalating this situation to a point where people are going to get hurt, where we should be going in the opposite direction."

"I don't want to see anyone get hurt," said Davenport. "I just want to make sure we have the tools... to keep people safe."

At that point, state Senator Vin Gopal (D-11) intervened.

While expressing his affection and respect for Bucco, he said he could not more strongly disagree.

"If we did not have a video [in the case of Alex Pretti] we would not have seen the public execution of a U.S. citizen," said Gopal.

"The chaos is coming from one area right now," he added, condemning the tactics by ICE in the Trump administration. "I don't think my friends on the other side of the aisle realize many of us are hoping you as the AG protect us."