This bill creates a dedicated immigration unit within New Jersey's Office of Public Defender (OPD) to provide legal representation and assistance on immigration matters. It directly affects noncitizens involved in the criminal justice system, those committed to psychiatric institutions, and noncitizen youth in juvenile delinquency cases. The unit will help these individuals navigate immigration consequences tied to their court proceedings, addressing a current gap where only two immigration attorneys serve approximately 600 noncitizen criminal defendants. The unit aims to ensure compliance with federal requirements (like *Padilla v. Kentucky*) and provide specialized support, especially for noncitizen youth facing unique challenges.
This bill imposes three new fees on private prison operators in New Jersey. Operators with government contracts must pay 8% of the contract value annually, while all operators must pay $15 per inmate per day detained at their facility. Non-S corporation operators must also pay a 3% surtax on their taxable income. Revenue from these fees will fund two programs: legal services for detained and deported individuals, and community initiatives including food security, housing, job training, and youth mentorship.
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.
This New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 68) urges Congress to pass the bipartisan "Afghan Adjustment Act." It directly addresses Afghan allies who helped U.S. forces in Afghanistan, many of whom entered the U.S. under temporary humanitarian parole after the 2021 withdrawal but lack a path to permanent legal status. The resolution requests Congress enact legislation that would allow these evacuees to apply for permanent residency, similar to past laws for Cuban, Southeast Asian, and Iraqi allies. It does not create new law but formally asks federal lawmakers to advance this specific bill. The resolution cites 76,000 Afghans currently in temporary status as the key group affected.
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.
S 3530, the "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act," protects residential tenants in New Jersey from discrimination based on immigration status. It prohibits landlords from threatening to report a tenant’s immigration status, using it as a reason to evict, or requiring social security numbers/ID as a condition for tenancy. Tenants can sue landlords for violations and recover damages up to $2,000 per violation, plus attorney fees. The bill also prevents courts from inquiring into a tenant’s immigration status during housing rights cases unless directly relevant to the tenant’s claims.
New Jersey's ACR 106 is a formal statement condemning President Trump's 2025 decision to end federal protections preventing immigration enforcement in sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, and shelters. The resolution states this policy reversal - reversing Biden-era guidance that had barred ICE actions in these areas - undermines community trust and deters immigrants from accessing essential services. It does not change laws but sends a formal disapproval to the White House, Homeland Security, and New Jersey's congressional delegation. The resolution reaffirms New Jersey's commitment to equal access to healthcare, education, and community resources for all residents, regardless of immigration status.
This bill establishes the "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act" to create a coordination program within the Department of Human Services. The program connects migrants (individuals relocating from other countries) and refugees (granted federal refugee status) with existing public assistance resources like housing, healthcare, job training, education, and legal services. It requires the Department to collaborate with local governments and community groups, conduct multilingual outreach, and submit annual reports tracking program effectiveness and service numbers. The bill directly affects migrants and refugees in New Jersey seeking support to integrate into state services.
This bill amends New Jersey's earned sick leave law to explicitly allow employees to use accrued sick leave for immigration-related proceedings. It directly affects workers facing immigration court hearings, consultations with legal counsel, or other immigration-related legal matters. The key provision adds "time needed by the employee in connection with an immigration-related proceeding" as a permitted use under the existing sick leave statute. This change aligns with the state's existing framework for sick leave, which already covers medical care, family care, and domestic violence situations. The bill does not alter sick leave accrual rates or documentation requirements for this new purpose.
This bill amends New Jersey law to allow individuals with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status to work as law enforcement and corrections officers. It replaces the existing requirement that officers must be U.S. citizens with a new standard permitting those granted DACA relief under federal immigration law. The change applies to all state and county correctional officers, police departments, and juvenile corrections roles, without altering other existing requirements like English proficiency, high school diplomas, background checks, or moral character standards. This directly affects DACA-eligible individuals seeking public safety careers in New Jersey.
