Immigration (Citizenship & Naturalization) in New Jersey

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

A 509: Provides for agreement between Secretary of State and AOC to match information in Statewide voter registration system with certain jury records in order to identify and remove ineligible non-citizen voter registrants from system.

This bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of State to match the Statewide voter registration system with jury records to identify and remove non-citizen voter registrants. Specifically, it mandates an agreement with the courts to cross-check voter data against juror records - including requests for excuses based on non-citizenship - to remove ineligible registrations. The matching applies retroactively to all available jury records since 1994, when New Jersey allowed voter registration at driver's license offices. This process aims to improve the accuracy of voter rolls by ensuring only eligible citizens remain registered.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

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

A 4260: Requires expunged records to be accessible for immigration purposes.

This bill requires New Jersey courts and agencies to make expunged criminal records available to individuals upon request for immigration or naturalization purposes. It directly affects noncitizens in New Jersey who have had criminal convictions expunged and need these records for U.S. immigration applications or citizenship processes. Under the bill, if a person with an expungement order requests records for immigration matters, the court or designated agency must provide the records to them or their representative, rather than stating "no record exists." This change ensures expunged records remain accessible for federal immigration requirements without requiring the individual to seek additional legal action.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Courts Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs Immigrant Services

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

A 323: "Protecting Legally-Present Youngsters' Limited Educational Resources Act"; requires students who are not U.S. citizens or legal immigrants to pay tuition to attend public schools.

This New Jersey bill (A 323) requires public school districts to charge tuition to students who are not U.S. citizens or legal immigrants, while allowing citizens and legal immigrants to attend free. Specifically, schools must verify a child's citizenship or immigration status before enrollment; students without documentation must pay annual tuition of at least $1,000 per year. Districts must report the number of tuition-paying students and collected funds in school report cards, and post this data online. The bill directly affects non-citizen students, including undocumented children, and aims to shift educational costs away from taxpayers by requiring tuition payments from this group.

Topics ✗ Education ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Higher Education Citizenship & Naturalization DACA & Dreamers Driver Licenses & IDs

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

A 1996: Enhances protections under Law Against Discrimination for immigrants and persons who are not United States citizens.

This New Jersey bill amends the Law Against Discrimination to explicitly protect immigrants and non-citizens from discrimination based on their immigration status or citizenship status. It adds these categories to the list of protected characteristics in employment, housing, and public accommodations, alongside existing protections for race, gender, disability, and other factors. The law ensures individuals cannot be denied jobs, housing, or services due to their immigration or citizenship status, and clarifies that discrimination against people for these reasons harms both individuals and the state. This expands existing anti-discrimination law to directly address barriers faced by immigrant communities.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

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

A 330: "Public Charge Transparency Act"; requires State entities which provide government assistance to inquire and record beneficiary's citizenship or immigration status and report cost of government assistance to illegal aliens.

This bill requires New Jersey state and local agencies that provide government assistance (like food, healthcare, housing, or utilities) to ask beneficiaries about their citizenship or immigration status and document it. Agencies must submit monthly, aggregated reports to the Department of Health showing the cost of assistance provided to individuals who cannot prove lawful presence (defined as "illegal aliens" under the bill), with all data made publicly available online. It mandates that applicants provide proof of status to receive aid and prohibits false statements about immigration status, with violations punishable as a fourth-degree crime. The bill directly affects agencies receiving state funding and people applying for state-provided benefits.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 8, 2026

A 4492: "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act"; provides certain protections to residential tenants and codifies certain warranty of habitability protections.

The "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act" (A4492) prohibits landlords in New Jersey from threatening to disclose or disclosing a tenant’s immigration or citizenship status to force them out of housing, or from using that status as a basis for eviction. It bans evictions solely or partially tied to immigration status and allows tenants to sue for up to $2,000 per violation, plus damages and legal fees. The bill also blocks courts from inquiring into a tenant’s immigration status during housing rights cases, except in limited circumstances like federal program compliance. It directly affects residential tenants (particularly immigrant communities) and landlords, while clarifying that landlords may still request standard financial or identity verification for legitimate rental purposes.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights Citizenship & Naturalization

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

A 2003: Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in companies engaging in government contracts or business operations infringing on data privacy of individuals for purpose of determining immigration status.

This New Jersey bill prohibits state pension and annuity funds from investing in companies that collect or manipulate personal data - without a warrant or court order - to determine immigration status or citizenship. It requires the State Investment Council to identify such companies using an independent privacy firm, then divest funds from them by January 1 of the second year after the bill takes effect, while following standard investment practices. The Council must submit annual reports detailing divested investments and progress to the Governor and Legislature. The bill also shields officials from legal liability for divestment decisions made under its requirements.

Topics ✓ Immigration ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Data Privacy

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

ACR 23: Expresses support for "Equal Representation Act."

This resolution (ACR 23) expresses the New Jersey Legislature's support for H.R. 7109, the "Equal Representation Act," a federal bill that would require a citizenship question on the U.S. census and change how congressional seats and electoral votes are apportioned. The proposed bill aims to base representation on the U.S. citizen population only, rather than the current method that counts all residents - including noncitizens like undocumented immigrants. Currently, census data used for apportionment includes all people living in the U.S., which supporters argue dilutes representation for citizens in areas with larger noncitizen populations. The resolution itself has no legal effect but formally urges the U.S. Senate to pass H.R. 7109, which the House approved in May 2024.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 23, 2026

S 3522: Establishes "Privacy Protection Act"; concerns collection and sharing of certain personal information.

This bill prohibits New Jersey government entities and healthcare facilities from collecting or sharing certain personal information, including immigration status, citizenship, birthplace, Social Security numbers, and tax IDs, except when necessary to provide public services or benefits. It prevents these entities from disclosing such information publicly, except under specific legal circumstances like court orders, subpoenas, or when required for election eligibility. The bill also specifically restricts the sale or sharing of automated license plate recognition data collected by government agencies. These provisions aim to limit unnecessary data collection and protect individuals seeking public services or healthcare.

Topics ✓ Immigration ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Data Privacy

signed · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 25, 2026

A 4070: Establishes "Privacy Protection Act"; concerns collection and sharing of certain personal information.

This New Jersey bill establishes the "Privacy Protection Act" to limit how government agencies and healthcare facilities collect and share certain personal information. It prohibits them from requesting details like immigration status, citizenship, social security numbers, or tax IDs unless necessary for specific public services, benefits, or healthcare delivery (with healthcare exceptions for patient safety). The bill requires written consent in the person's preferred language for sharing any collected data, detailing exactly what will be shared, why, and confirming consent is voluntary without retaliation. It also bans selling or sharing vehicle license plate data except under court orders, subpoenas, or with explicit written consent, and mandates government entities to update privacy policies within one year.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Immigration ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs Data Privacy Tags Privacy

All immigration bills