Immigration (Enforcement)

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SR 58: Directs AG to repeal and amend certain provisions of directive restricting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

This bill (SR 58) directs New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal and modify a 2018 law enforcement directive that limited local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It specifically removes restrictions preventing state/local law enforcement from sharing immigration status information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while preserving protections for T-Visa (human trafficking victims) and U-Visa (crime victim) certifications. The resolution aims to enable law enforcement to share immigration status details without legal barriers, citing concerns about community safety and coordination with federal agencies. It does not create new laws but directs the Attorney General to update existing policy, with exceptions for victim protection provisions.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRepeals 2018 directive restricting ICE cooperation, enabling local police to share immigration status with ICE - increases state enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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

A 325: "Imprisoning Illegal Aliens Act;" allows State and local entities and private detention facilities to enter into agreements to detain noncitizens.

This bill, formally titled "Imprisoning Illegal Aliens Act" but actually repealing New Jersey's current ban, would allow state/local governments and private detention facilities to enter into agreements for detaining noncitizens under civil immigration law. Currently, New Jersey law prohibits such agreements (for contracts related to housing or detaining noncitizens for immigration violations), but this bill removes that restriction. The key change is replacing "shall not" with "may" for entering these agreements, effective immediately upon passage. It directly affects New Jersey's counties, sheriffs, municipalities, and private detention facilities that previously could not participate in immigration detention contracts.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRepeals NJ's ban on state/local agreements for detaining noncitizens under civil immigration law, enabling increased state enforcement and cooperation with federal immigration detention.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention 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 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 · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 907: Prohibits State funding to assist immigrants facing detention or deportation.

This bill prohibits New Jersey state funds from being used to provide legal assistance or services to immigrants facing detention or deportation based on their immigration status. It directly affects public agencies and nonprofit organizations that might receive state funding for such legal aid, blocking direct state payments or funds flowing through contracts or grants. The key mechanism bans all state financial support - whether direct or indirect - for legal help related to immigration detention or deportation cases. The bill takes immediate effect and specifically targets funding that would otherwise support services like those proposed in Governor Murphy's FY2025 budget for Legal Services of New Jersey.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds legal aid for immigrants facing deportation, restricting state budget allocation for immigration-related services.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationDefunds legal assistance for immigrants facing deportation, restricting access to services per bill's explicit prohibition of state funding for immigration-related legal aid.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Immigrant Services Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1046: "New Jersey Laken Riley Act"; establishes law enforcement procedures for arrests of aliens unlawfully present in the U.S. charged with certain crimes.

New Jersey's S 1046, the "New Jersey Laken Riley Act," establishes procedures for law enforcement when arresting undocumented immigrants charged with specific serious crimes. It applies to individuals not citizens, lawful residents, or authorized under certain federal programs (like DACA or asylum) who face charges including first-degree crimes, motor vehicle offenses causing injury, or federal aggravated felonies/crimes of violence. The bill requires officers to verify immigration status via DHS; if confirmed as unlawfully present, officers must comply with federal immigration detainers and prosecutors must seek pretrial detention, overriding state bail reform laws. The bill repeals prior state laws restricting immigration enforcement and ends the "Immigrant Trust Directive" that limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates immigration status checks for arrests of undocumented immigrants charged with serious crimes, expanding criminalization within law enforcement procedures.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires law enforcement to verify immigration status for undocumented immigrants charged with specific crimes, facilitating federal removal; increases state enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 369: Requires certain law enforcement entities and courts to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

This bill (S 369) requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional facilities to notify federal immigration authorities within 24 hours when arresting or convicting non-citizens unlawfully present in the U.S. who are charged with specific crimes like violent offenses, drug-related crimes, theft, or robbery. It applies to all law enforcement agencies, sentencing courts, correctional facilities holding convicted non-citizens, and parole/probation officers supervising them. The notification triggers deportation proceedings under federal immigration enforcement. The bill defines "federal immigration authority" as officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, or Homeland Security.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates state law enforcement to notify federal authorities within 24 hours for non-citizens convicted of specific crimes, 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 · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1581: Permits State, local government agencies, and private detention facilities to enter into agreement to detain noncitizens.

This bill (S 1581) removes a current prohibition in New Jersey law that prevents state/local agencies and private detention facilities from entering agreements to detain noncitizens for immigration violations. It allows these entities to now form contracts, memorandums, or service agreements to house individuals detained for civil immigration matters. The bill amends prior law (P.L.2021, c.199) by deleting restrictions and repealing the existing ban. It directly affects New Jersey state/local governments, county sheriffs, municipalities, and privately operated detention facilities. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment but is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRemoves prohibition on state/local agencies cooperating with federal immigration enforcement by detaining noncitizens, enabling expanded state-level immigration detention agreements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 933: Imposes criminal penalties for harboring aliens who have outstanding warrants and are unlawfully present in U.S.

This bill (S 933) amends New Jersey law to criminalize knowingly harboring or helping an undocumented immigrant who has an outstanding arrest or immigration warrant. It makes this a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in prison or $10,000 fine), unless the person helped is a close family member (spouse, parent, child), in which case it becomes a lesser offense. The law also creates an exception: undocumented immigrants who are victims of human trafficking cannot be prosecuted for hindering their own apprehension. It directly affects individuals who knowingly assist undocumented immigrants evading lawful arrest or deportation.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by imposing penalties for harboring undocumented immigrants, increasing enforcement-driven criminal penalties without reform focus.92% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationCriminalizes harboring undocumented immigrants with warrants, increasing state enforcement and limiting protections for immigrants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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