Immigration in New Jersey

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 ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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 Justice ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SR 26: Condemns federal government's actions in undermining privacy of taxpayer information; demands immediate reversal of federal policy whereby IRS shares private taxpayer information with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement for immigration enforcement purposes.

New Jersey's Senate Resolution 26 condemns the federal government's 2025 policy of sharing private taxpayer information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration enforcement. It specifically criticizes a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Treasury Department and Homeland Security that the IRS's own attorneys warned likely violates federal privacy laws requiring tax data confidentiality. The resolution demands the federal government immediately reverse this policy to protect taxpayer privacy and prevent errors like mistaken deportations. It also notes that New Jersey's immigrant community contributed $1.3 billion in state and local taxes in 2022, emphasizing that sharing tax data could deter immigrants from filing taxes.

Topics ✗ Immigration ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1332: Provides for agreement between Secretary of State and AOC to match information in Statewide voter registration system with certain jury records in order to identify and remove ineligible non-citizen voter registrants from system.

S 1332 requires New Jersey's Secretary of State to enter an agreement with the Administrative Office of the Courts to match voter registration data with jury records. This specifically targets individuals who claimed non-citizenship as a reason for jury duty excusal or deferral, enabling the identification and removal of non-citizen registrants from the voter rolls. The matching agreement applies retroactively to all available jury records since 1994, when New Jersey began allowing voter registration while applying for driver's licenses. This bill directly affects non-citizen individuals mistakenly registered to vote and mandates a data-sharing mechanism between election and judicial systems to maintain voter registration integrity.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 900: Prohibits municipal ordinance to create sanctuary city; establishes State and local employee ethics violation upon noncompliance with federal immigration enforcement request.

This bill prohibits New Jersey municipalities from passing ordinances that require local officials to refuse cooperation with federal immigration enforcement requests. It directly affects mayors, city councils, and county officials who might adopt "sanctuary city" policies. The law makes it a misdemeanor for officials to vote for such non-cooperation policies after the bill's effective date, with potential fines up to $1,000, jail time up to one year, or loss of office. It also requires local employees to comply with federal immigration requests as an ethics obligation and provides state defense/indemnification for officials cooperating with federal authorities, barring intentional misconduct.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1571: Requires AG to repeal law enforcement directive restricting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

This bill (S 1571) requires New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal a 2018 law enforcement directive (No. 2018-6) that restricted local police from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. The directive prohibited state and local officers from providing certain assistance to federal immigration officials when the sole purpose was enforcing immigration law, including sharing release dates for detained individuals or extending detention based solely on immigration requests. The bill states this directive threatens public safety and urges its immediate repeal. If passed, it would remove these restrictions, allowing law enforcement to share information with federal immigration authorities as permitted under federal law.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

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

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 902: Directs AG to enter into agreement with U.S. Attorney General to empower certain corrections officers to investigate immigration status of inmates.

This bill (S 902) would allow New Jersey to enter a federal agreement enabling designated corrections officers to check an inmate’s immigration status *at the time of incarceration*. Specifically, these trained officers would investigate whether an inmate is a lawful U.S. resident and report findings to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if the inmate’s presence is unauthorized under federal law. The agreement would outline required training, reporting protocols, and federal funding for the program. It directly affects inmates in New Jersey state and county correctional facilities and designated corrections officers who volunteer for this role.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 903: Requires chief law enforcement officer or Superintendent of State Police to notify federal immigration authorities when non-citizen applies for firearms purchaser identification card or handgun purchase permit.

New Jersey's S 903 requires state law enforcement officers (specifically the chief law enforcement officer or Superintendent of State Police) to notify federal immigration authorities when a non-citizen applies for a firearms purchaser identification card or handgun purchase permit. This bill amends existing state law by adding a new notification obligation for these specific applications, directly affecting non-citizen residents seeking to purchase or possess firearms. The requirement applies during the standard background check process for firearm permits, where retailers already submit background check information to the State Police. The bill does not change eligibility criteria for permits but mandates an additional reporting step to federal immigration authorities for non-citizen applicants.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1689: "New Jersey Jobs Protection Act"; requires verification of employment.

S 1689, the "New Jersey Jobs Protection Act," requires all New Jersey employers to verify the work authorization of employees using the federal E-Verify system. It prohibits employers from intentionally or knowingly hiring individuals without legal work authorization in the U.S., directly affecting businesses across the state. Key provisions include imposing a $10,000 penalty per unauthorized worker for first violations, mandating quarterly E-Verify reports during a three-year probation period, and requiring investigations by the Attorney General or county prosecutors for complaints. The bill aims to prevent job competition with unauthorized workers and protect state unemployment funds, though it explicitly relies on federal verification systems rather than state enforcement. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Labor Committee.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 851: Prohibits release of illegal immigrants from correctional facilities.

New Jersey's S 851 requires correctional facilities (prisons, jails, youth detention centers) to verify the citizenship and legal immigration status of every inmate. If an inmate is not a U.S. citizen or cannot be confirmed as lawfully present, the facility must not release them - except to federal immigration officials - and must document this determination. Violations by facility staff could result in civil penalties set by the Corrections Commissioner. The bill directly affects non-citizen inmates and correctional facility operators, aiming to prevent releases into the general population for those unlawfully present in the U.S.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

All immigration bills