Immigration (Driver Licenses & IDs)

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 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

A 611: "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act."

This New Jersey bill, the "Immigrant Tenant Protection Act," prohibits landlords from threatening to disclose or disclosing tenants' immigration status to force them to leave, or using that status as a reason to evict. It directly protects residential tenants, especially immigrant and undocumented residents, by banning such discriminatory practices in housing. Key provisions include allowing tenants to sue landlords for violations (with damages up to $2,000 per incident), preventing courts from questioning immigration status in housing cases unless directly relevant to a tenant’s claim, and making it harder for landlords to use immigration status as an eviction reason. The law amends existing tenant protection laws to explicitly shield tenants from housing discrimination based on immigration status.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits immigration status discrimination in evictions, directly protecting tenant rights per bill summary95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits landlords from using immigration status for eviction/threats, directly protecting immigrant tenants. Aligns with 'protect' indicator in support stance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights Driver Licenses & IDs Sanctuary Policies

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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 ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires written consent for sharing personal info in healthcare contexts, protecting patient privacy rights during treatment and delivery of services.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits collection of immigration status without necessity, reducing state cooperation with federal enforcement and protecting immigrant privacy.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill restricts government/healthcare data collection/sharing and mandates consent, directly strengthening data privacy protections under technology policy.95% confidence

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

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3104: Requires expunged records to be accessible for immigration purposes.

This bill requires New Jersey to make expunged criminal records accessible to non-citizen residents who need them for immigration or naturalization applications. It amends state law to ensure that when a court grants an expungement, the records specified in that order can be provided to the person or their representative upon request for immigration purposes. Currently, expunged records are treated as nonexistent for most purposes, but this creates barriers for non-citizens needing accurate records for federal immigration proceedings. The bill specifically defines "immigration or naturalization matter" to include any U.S. immigration or citizenship-related process. This change directly affects non-citizen residents who have had criminal records expunged but require those records to support immigration status applications.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves barrier for non-citizens needing expunged records for immigration, aligning with criminal justice reform by improving access to legal documentation and reducing systemic hurdles.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRemoves barrier preventing non-citizens from accessing expunged records needed for immigration applications, directly protecting immigrant rights and facilitating naturalization processes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1524: Requires certification that persons directly or indirectly receiving State monies or privileges are not unauthorized aliens.

This bill requires individuals or employers receiving state benefits (such as contracts, loans, tax breaks, grants, or licenses) to certify that their presence in the U.S. is authorized under federal law. Employers must also certify they made a good-faith effort to verify employees’ work eligibility under federal law. The New Jersey Department of Labor must provide a standardized form for this certification, including a statement that knowingly false claims may result in penalties. The law applies to all state agencies and aims to incorporate the certification into existing application processes, not create a new system. Penalties only apply to "knowingly and willfully" false statements.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires certification of legal status for state benefits, restricting access to services for unauthorized immigrants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Sanctuary Policies Work Authorization

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SR 48: Memorializes President and Department of Homeland Security to expedite and prioritize certain immigration applications.

SR 48 is a non-binding Senate resolution from New Jersey requesting the President and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to prioritize immigration applications for essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It specifically urges expedited processing for individuals classified as essential - particularly those in healthcare and other critical fields - who are seeking U.S. citizenship or green cards. The resolution does not create new law but formally asks federal agencies to accelerate these applications amid pandemic-related delays. It directly affects immigrant workers in essential sectors who face prolonged processing times under current systems.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRequests expedited processing for essential workers' immigration applications, advancing access to citizenship/green cards during pandemic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

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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 2771: Establishes protections for immigrants interacting with government agencies; designates "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act."

S 2771, the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act, prohibits state and local government agencies from holding individuals for federal immigration authorities based on immigration detainers. It requires agencies like schools, hospitals, and law enforcement to provide services without fear of immigration enforcement, ensuring all residents access public services regardless of immigration status. The bill specifically bans cooperation with "immigration detainers" (requests from federal authorities to detain people) unless supported by a judicial warrant. This directly affects immigrant communities by reducing barriers to healthcare, education, and public safety services, while directing state resources toward local priorities instead of federal immigration enforcement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits state agencies from holding individuals for federal immigration detainers, protecting immigrants from law enforcement overreach and ensuring access to services without fear of deportation.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBans state cooperation with federal immigration detainers, ensures public service access regardless of status, protecting immigrant rights per bill's explicit provisions95% 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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