Last week, New Jersey lawmakers passed a trio of bills in response to ICE actions across the United States. The passing of these bills only gained urgency after the events in Minnesota with the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent.
These bills include a variety of provisions aimed at protecting the people of New Jersey by limiting the assistance state police can provide in ICE activities. Under these new laws, NJ police would be banned from holding individuals at the request of ICE without a judicial warrant. The bills also prohibit law enforcement from engaging in “racially influenced policing”, such as stopping individuals based on suspected immigration status.
Additionally, these bills would designate certain locations as “safe zones” where law enforcement officers would be prohibited from assisting federal agents. These locations include hospitals, public schools, courthouses, and places of worship. Sensitive personal information would also no longer be shared with federal immigration agents by police or hospitals.
Also included in the bills is a mandate that would require a report to be filed and sent to the attorney general anytime state law enforcement provides support to federal immigration agents. These annual reports would also need to be released to the public and posted online for easy access.
These bills passed the Assembly 46-26 and the Senate 23-13. Activists who were present at the passage hailed it as “a landmark moment” for immigrant rights, as the Trump administration is aggressively implementing its mass deportation policy.
After the bills’ passage, Assemblywoman Ellen Park, who sponsored the bills, shared “[Agents] are picking up anyone who appears remotely ‘other,’ threatening anyone who tries to speak up, as the Trump administration continues to weaponize ICE… These bills set boundaries and offer crucial protection.”
Amy Torres, the executive director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, also made a statement following the passing of the bills, saying, “New Jersey is one step closer to becoming a place where fear no longer dictates people’s lives. This legislature has made it clear: the answer to this world’s uncertainty can be found by leading with our values. While this isn’t a finish line, it is long-awaited steady ground. These protections are a leg up on the chaos and confusion that have controlled immigrant lives for too long.”
This legislation heads to NJ Governor Phil Murphy’s office for consideration, where he must decide to sign or veto the bills before he leaves office tomorrow. If vetoed, sponsors will have to reintroduce them in hopes they would again pass the assembly and senate and be signed into law by Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill.
