Immigration

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4302: Prohibits certain employment of certain US Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees in certain State and local positions.

This bill prohibits individuals employed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as agents or officers between September 1, 2025, and January 20, 2029, from working in specific New Jersey state or local positions. It directly affects ICE employees during that period, disqualifying them from becoming state/local government workers, law enforcement officers, or teachers. The key provision (Section 2a) bans such employment regardless of compensation, covering roles like school staff, sworn police officers, and public agency employees. The bill defines "law enforcement officer" broadly to include police, correctional officers, and campus security, and "teacher" to encompass all school staff.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits ICE employees from state/local roles, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, aligning with support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 322: "Immigration Enforcement Support Act"; authorizes law enforcement agency to detain and transfer to federal immigration authorities persons illegally in State; provides compensation to law enforcement agency for deportation.

This bill (A 322, "Immigration Enforcement Support Act") allows New Jersey state and local law enforcement agencies to detain individuals they believe are in the U.S. illegally, regardless of any current criminal charges, and transfer them to federal immigration authorities. It directly affects undocumented immigrants in New Jersey and state/local police departments. The key provision requires the state to pay law enforcement agencies $7,000 for each person successfully deported after being detained under this law, with payments allocated proportionally if multiple agencies are involved. Agencies qualify for payment only if they detained the individual specifically for transfer to federal immigration authorities.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationAuthorizes detaining undocumented immigrants for federal transfer and funds enforcement, directly increasing state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1446: Requires person convicted, or fleeing charge, of sex offense in foreign country to register under Megan's Law; requires law enforcement to inquire about immigration status of sex offenders and cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

This bill expands New Jersey's Megan's Law to require individuals convicted of sex offenses in foreign countries (or fleeing charges there) to register with local police, similar to domestic offenders. It specifically mandates law enforcement to ask sex offenders about their immigration status and cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The law applies to anyone who is enrolled in an NJ school, employed in the state for specified periods, or resides in New Jersey after a foreign conviction. Registration requirements include submitting forms to local police within 10 days of moving to NJ or 120 days after the law's effective date, with penalties for non-compliance. The bill does not change the definition of "sex offense" but extends existing registration obligations to cover foreign convictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands Megan's Law registration for foreign sex offenders and mandates law enforcement cooperation on immigration, strengthening sex offender monitoring within criminal justice system.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates law enforcement to inquire about immigration status and cooperate with federal immigration authorities, directly aligning with enforcement-focused policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1838: Permits State, local government agencies, and private detention facilities to enter into agreement to detain noncitizens.

Bill A-1838 removes a current prohibition that prevents New Jersey state/local government agencies and private detention facilities from entering agreements to detain noncitizens for civil immigration violations. Currently, such agreements are barred under state law, but this bill would permit them. The key change eliminates the ban on immigration detention agreements, allowing entities to enter, renew, or extend these contracts. This directly affects how New Jersey manages noncitizen detention under state law.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRemoves ban on state/local agreements to detain noncitizens, enabling greater cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, directly restricting immigrant protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 213: Imposes criminal penalties for harboring aliens who have outstanding warrants and are unlawfully present in U.S.

This New Jersey bill (A 213) makes it a crime to knowingly hide undocumented immigrants who have outstanding arrest or immigration warrants. It imposes criminal penalties - up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine - for harboring such individuals, including family members like spouses or parents. The law also criminalizes hindering an immigrant’s deportation when the person knows a warrant exists. It includes an exception: undocumented immigrants who were victims of human trafficking during the time they avoided deportation may use this as a defense. The bill directly affects undocumented immigrants with active warrants and anyone providing them shelter.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by penalizing harboring undocumented immigrants with warrants, increasing penalties rather than promoting reform or reducing recidivism.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationImposes criminal penalties for harboring undocumented immigrants with warrants, increasing state-level immigration enforcement against undocumented individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

AR 20: Urges U.S. Congress to remove federal courts' jurisdiction in certain education matters, or alternatively, overturn certain prior case law.

This New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 20) urges the U.S. Congress to remove federal court jurisdiction over cases where states require undocumented immigrant children to pay school tuition. It also asks the Supreme Court to overturn *Plyler v. Doe* (1981), which established that states cannot deny public education to undocumented children. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests federal action to return education policy authority to states. It directly addresses how states may fund education for undocumented students, referencing the Supreme Court's conflicting rulings on the issue. This is a non-binding request, not a legislative proposal.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationSeeks to overturn *Plyler v. Doe*, which guarantees public education access for undocumented children, thereby restricting educational access for this group.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationSeeks to overturn *Plyler v. Doe*, which protects undocumented children's right to public education, aiming to allow states to require tuition from them.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education DACA & Dreamers Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1363: Requires DHS to take action to raise public awareness of privacy laws that prevent disclosure of health care enrollment information to immigration authorities.

This New Jersey bill (A-1363) requires the Department of Human Services to create a public awareness campaign explaining existing privacy laws that prevent health care enrollment information (from Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare) from being shared with immigration authorities. It directly affects immigrant populations in New Jersey who may avoid health care due to unfounded fears of deportation. The campaign must use linguistically and culturally sensitive materials in English and Spanish, distributed through health facilities, community centers, libraries, and other local organizations, and coordinate with existing Medicaid outreach efforts. The department must also create a dedicated, Spanish-accessible webpage on its website summarizing these privacy protections and linking to relevant federal resources.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves fear-based barrier to healthcare access for immigrants by clarifying privacy protections, directly improving patient access to Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill creates public awareness campaign to protect health care privacy from immigration authorities, directly reducing immigrant fear of deportation when accessing services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects health data privacy by preventing disclosure of enrollment info to immigration authorities, directly aligning with data privacy safeguards in technology policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Enforcement

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 12, 2026

A 4037: Concerning noncitizens voting in local elections and conduct in office by local government officers.

This bill proposes to prohibit local New Jersey governments from allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. It declares any ordinance or action permitting noncitizen voting as "null and void" and states that approving such measures violates elected officials' oaths to "faithfully, impartially and justly perform" duties. The bill specifically targets local elections (not state or federal) and applies to mayors, council members, and other local officials. It is currently pending before the legislature and would amend existing law to clarify that local governments lack authority to permit noncitizen voting.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill prohibits noncitizen voting in local elections, restricting immigrant political participation and rights per its explicit language.95% confidence

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4133: Requires each State agency make State forms, applications, and other documents available in certain languages, including Gujarati, Korean, and Punjabi.

This bill requires all New Jersey state agencies to provide public forms, applications, and documents in the five most commonly spoken languages in the state, as determined by the latest federal census. It also specifically mandates that agencies make materials available in Gujarati, Korean, and Punjabi upon request. The requirement applies to every state department, commission, board, or authority defined in the bill. Implementation will use the most recent decennial census data to identify the required languages.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRequires state documents in immigrant languages (Gujarati, Korean, Punjabi), facilitating access to services and integration per bill's mandate.95% confidence

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

AR 120: Urges Congress to provide aid to Haitian migrants.

This resolution (AR 120) urges Congress to provide aid to Haitian migrants affected by Haiti's ongoing political crisis, gang violence, and natural disasters. It does not create new law but asks Congress to fund support for Haitian migrants, including shelter, legal services, food aid, and medical assistance through frontline organizations. The resolution cites Haiti's humanitarian challenges, including the 2021 earthquake, political instability, and food insecurity impacting millions. It directs copies to Haitian officials, U.S. ambassadors, and New Jersey's congressional delegation. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses legislative support but does not allocate funds or mandate action.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly requests funding for medical assistance for Haitian migrants, directly advancing healthcare services as part of aid provision.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly urges Congress to fund Haitian migrant aid including shelter, legal services, food, and medical assistance due to Haiti's crises.95% confidence

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