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.
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.
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.
S 3216, the "Transparency in Federal Law Enforcement Activities Act," requires federal law enforcement officers (such as ICE or CBP agents) operating in New Jersey with state or local law enforcement to visibly display their name and agency on identification and verbally state this information upon request when questioning, detaining, or arresting someone. It applies to all federal agents participating in joint operations with New Jersey agencies. State and local officers must refuse to assist in any operation if federal agents fail to comply, and violations can lead to disciplinary action against officers or private lawsuits for affected residents. The bill clarifies it does not interfere with lawful federal actions but mandates transparency during cooperative law enforcement activities within New Jersey.
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.
The New Jersey Sovereignty Act (S 2727) restricts the deployment of the state's National Guard for active duty combat to only situations requiring a congressional declaration of war or specific congressional authorization under Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 of the U.S. Constitution. It prohibits state and local law enforcement from providing certain federal assistance - such as immigration enforcement, sharing non-public personal data, or granting access to detention facilities - without explicit state authorization from the Attorney General or Governor. The bill mandates that law enforcement agencies immediately report all federal requests for cooperation to assess whether they comply with New Jersey's sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment. These provisions directly affect New Jersey's National Guard and law enforcement agencies by establishing clear boundaries for state-federal interactions.
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.
SCR 57 is a New Jersey concurrent resolution condemning President Trump's decision to rescind a federal policy that prohibited immigration enforcement in sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, and shelters. It specifically targets the Trump administration's reversal of Biden-era guidance that protected these areas, which had been in place since 2011. The resolution states this change deters immigrant families - including U.S. citizen children - from accessing essential services like healthcare, education, and disaster relief. As a symbolic statement (not a law), it reaffirms New Jersey's commitment to equal access to services regardless of immigration status and will be sent to the President, Homeland Security Secretary, and New Jersey's congressional delegation.
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.
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.
