This bill prohibits New Jersey state, county, and municipal governments from using public funds or property to build, operate, or support immigrant detention facilities. It specifically bans spending money to construct or renovate facilities, leasing public property to private entities for detention use, subsidizing privately owned detention centers, and paying for the detention costs of individuals in privately operated facilities. The legislation allows local and state governments to continue providing health and safety resources to people detained in these facilities while restricting financial and property support for their operation.
This bill prohibits the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) from accepting certain U.S. immigration documents as proof of identity when issuing driver's licenses or ID cards. Specifically, it bans the use of documents related to deportation or removal issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Homeland Security (DHS), including orders of release or supervision. The law directly affects applicants seeking standard driver's licenses, ID cards, or permits who might otherwise rely on these immigration documents for identity verification. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill codifies New Jersey's Attorney General's "Strengthening Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities" directive into law. It directly affects all New Jersey state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies and officers by prohibiting them from: (1) stopping or detaining people based solely on immigration status, (2) asking about immigration status except during specific criminal investigations, and (3) sharing personal information with federal immigration authorities for immigration enforcement purposes. The law clarifies that officers' primary duty is enforcing state criminal laws, not federal immigration law, and emphasizes that this does not prevent enforcing state criminal laws. The goal is to build trust in immigrant communities and ensure law enforcement resources focus on public safety rather than immigration enforcement.
This New Jersey bill (A 212) requires law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional facilities to notify federal immigration authorities when non-citizens unlawfully present in the state are arrested or convicted of specific offenses. It mandates 24-hour notification to federal immigration authorities (including ICE and CBP) for arrests related to crimes like violent offenses (1st-4th degree), drug trafficking, theft, or robbery. Courts must also immediately contact federal authorities upon convicting such non-citizens, and probation officers or correctional facilities must provide similar notifications. The law directly affects non-citizens in New Jersey facing these charges, requiring state entities to facilitate deportation proceedings. It takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill (A 1371) allows parents or legal custodians separated from their children due to federal immigration actions - such as detention, arrest, or removal - to formally appoint a standby guardian for their minor child. It expands existing standby guardianship law to specifically include "administrative separation" caused by immigration enforcement. Parents can designate a guardian through written consent (without needing medical proof for immigration-related cases), and the guardian assumes care upon the parent's separation, without terminating parental rights. The bill directly affects immigrant parents facing immigration enforcement actions who wish to secure childcare arrangements in advance.
This New Jersey bill (S 3711) allows individuals to file civil lawsuits against those conducting immigration enforcement who knowingly violate the U.S. Constitution. It directly affects people subjected to immigration enforcement actions and the officers or entities performing them. The law permits claims for monetary damages - including punitive damages, psychological harm, and attorney fees - and requires courts to consider specific factors when awarding punitive damages, such as whether an officer wore a facial covering, failed to identify themselves, or used crowd control equipment. Qualified immunity remains a defense against liability under this act.
This bill, the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act (A-1400), prohibits state and local government agencies - including law enforcement, schools, and hospitals - from cooperating with federal immigration authorities on immigration detainer requests that lack judicial warrants. It directly affects immigrants and their families by ensuring they can access public services like healthcare and education without fear of deportation. Key provisions ban agencies from holding individuals beyond their release date based on federal immigration detainers (like I-247 forms) and require them to prioritize local safety over federal immigration enforcement. The law aims to prevent unconstitutional detentions and maintain community trust in public services, as federal detainers have been found to violate constitutional rights in multiple courts.
New Jersey bill A 3144 directs the Attorney General to create a formal agreement with federal authorities, enabling specific corrections officers to check inmates' immigration status at the time of incarceration. Only officers who volunteer, are approved by their employers, and complete required training would be designated for this role. If an inmate is found to be in the U.S. without legal authorization, officers would report this to federal immigration authorities (ICE), but they cannot take enforcement action themselves. The agreement would also outline training, federal funding for costs, and clarify legal protections for officers acting under this program. The bill is pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
This bill requires all New Jersey law enforcement agencies - including municipal, county, and state police departments, as well as educational institutions with campus police - to adopt written policies for cooperating with federal immigration authorities upon request. It defines "law enforcement officer" broadly to include those with arrest powers under state law. The bill also mandates that the state defend officers in civil lawsuits arising from cooperation (unless misconduct occurred) and cover settlement costs for officers following the policy. This directly affects thousands of officers across New Jersey’s 566 municipalities and educational institutions with police forces. The policy change would standardize cooperation with federal immigration enforcement at the local level.
This bill (S 3521) codifies New Jersey's Attorney General's "Strengthening Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities" directive into law. It prohibits state, county, and municipal law enforcement officers from stopping, questioning, arresting, or detaining individuals based solely on immigration status or federal immigration violations. The law also bans officers from asking about immigration status (except when directly relevant to investigating a specific crime) or sharing personal data like Social Security numbers, license details, or addresses with federal immigration authorities for enforcement purposes. The bill explicitly affirms that law enforcement must focus on state criminal law enforcement, not federal immigration enforcement, to maintain community trust and public safety.
