New Jersey Legislature Fast-Tracks Bills Limiting Cooperation with ICE Amid Growing Concerns Over Immigration Enforcement
In a swift move, the New Jersey Legislature has cleared three bills aimed at limiting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, following a high-profile shooting in Minneapolis that killed an unarmed woman. The legislation, which is being fast-tracked for consideration by the full Senate and Assembly on Monday, would bar police officers from engaging in "racially influenced policing" and require agencies to develop procedures for certain visa requests.
Senate President Nicholas Scutari expressed concerns about the potential consequences of these measures, stating that he fears New Jersey may become a target of federal authorities. However, proponents argue that these bills are necessary to protect immigrant residents who fear federal agents and prevent what they describe as "racially influenced policing."
The legislation comes on the heels of a recent incident in Minneapolis, where an ICE officer shot and killed a woman during a civil immigration enforcement operation. Senator Britnee Timberlake (D-Essex) condemned the killing, stating that it highlights the dangers faced by immigrants who are not citizens.
"This is wrong what we're seeing," Timberlake said. "These bills are just a slight step in the right direction to try to protect our citizens as much as we can."
Assemblyman Greg Myhre (R-Ocean) disagreed, calling the legislation "codifying lawlessness" that would make New Jersey less safe.
Meanwhile, the White House has criticized the Legislature for moving these bills, saying it should focus on protecting law-abiding citizens rather than shielding immigrants who commit crimes.
The package of bills includes measures to expand protections for immigrants, such as requiring agencies to develop policies for sensitive locations and prohibiting government entities from asking for certain personal information in some cases. Immigrant advocates have urged lawmakers to take action to shield their residents from federal immigration enforcement, citing the potential for future attorney general reversals of a directive that limits cooperation.
Nedia Morsy, director of Make the Road New Jersey, emphasized the need for these laws, stating that they are "necessary to build a firewall against an unaccountable, militarized deportation force." However, she also acknowledged that no legislation can guarantee complete protection from federal enforcement.
As the bills await consideration by the Senate and Assembly, Governor Phil Murphy has declined to comment on whether he would sign or veto them.
In a swift move, the New Jersey Legislature has cleared three bills aimed at limiting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, following a high-profile shooting in Minneapolis that killed an unarmed woman. The legislation, which is being fast-tracked for consideration by the full Senate and Assembly on Monday, would bar police officers from engaging in "racially influenced policing" and require agencies to develop procedures for certain visa requests.
Senate President Nicholas Scutari expressed concerns about the potential consequences of these measures, stating that he fears New Jersey may become a target of federal authorities. However, proponents argue that these bills are necessary to protect immigrant residents who fear federal agents and prevent what they describe as "racially influenced policing."
The legislation comes on the heels of a recent incident in Minneapolis, where an ICE officer shot and killed a woman during a civil immigration enforcement operation. Senator Britnee Timberlake (D-Essex) condemned the killing, stating that it highlights the dangers faced by immigrants who are not citizens.
"This is wrong what we're seeing," Timberlake said. "These bills are just a slight step in the right direction to try to protect our citizens as much as we can."
Assemblyman Greg Myhre (R-Ocean) disagreed, calling the legislation "codifying lawlessness" that would make New Jersey less safe.
Meanwhile, the White House has criticized the Legislature for moving these bills, saying it should focus on protecting law-abiding citizens rather than shielding immigrants who commit crimes.
The package of bills includes measures to expand protections for immigrants, such as requiring agencies to develop policies for sensitive locations and prohibiting government entities from asking for certain personal information in some cases. Immigrant advocates have urged lawmakers to take action to shield their residents from federal immigration enforcement, citing the potential for future attorney general reversals of a directive that limits cooperation.
Nedia Morsy, director of Make the Road New Jersey, emphasized the need for these laws, stating that they are "necessary to build a firewall against an unaccountable, militarized deportation force." However, she also acknowledged that no legislation can guarantee complete protection from federal enforcement.
As the bills await consideration by the Senate and Assembly, Governor Phil Murphy has declined to comment on whether he would sign or veto them.
they r human beings 2 
dont deserve 2 b treated like criminals just cuz they r undocumented 
we gotta think about the ppl who r gettin killed by ice agents in cldn operations 
its time 4 us 2 take a stand & protect our neighbors 
they're really worried about what might happen next in washington but who's actually losing sleep because of ICE raids? immigrants who have families, friends, and loved ones who care about them. these bills aren't just about shielding people from deportation they're also about stopping racist profiling which is still happening all over the country 
if you want to talk about lawlessness let's look at how police departments are already handling immigration cases without any legislation what really gets my goat is that this is just another attempt to paint immigrants as the villains when it's actually our society that's broken and in need of reform 
They need to protect immigrants who just wanna live their lives without fear of being deported. It's wild how some ppl think ICE is above the law 
I'm all about keeping NJ safe & fair for everyone. 
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. We need to protect our immigrant residents from federal agents who might be, you know, racist or whatever 
. It's not about shielding people who commit crimes, it's about keeping innocent folks safe 
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. We need to stop playing politics and start prioritizing people over borders 
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. We need more advocates like Nedia Morsy fighting for our rights 
. It's time for us to take a stand and demand better from our leaders 
. Fingers crossed these bills get passed soon 
!
. It's crazy that we're even having to pass laws like these because of the trauma and fear that immigrants are already experiencing just by living in our country. I mean, who would want to feel like they're being targeted or detained for doing nothing wrong? 
. And yeah, maybe these laws aren't perfect, but at least they're a step in the right direction towards creating a more inclusive and fair society for everyone 
I'm so worried about these new laws in NJ... as a parent, it's terrifying to think that our kids might get caught up in all this. What if they have a family member who's undocumented and gets stopped by ICE? The thought of them being separated or deported is just too much to handle. 
I know some people are saying it's about protecting our citizens, but what about the innocent ones who don't do anything wrong? 
Can we really afford to put up a firewall against deportation without thinking about the human impact on families?! 
. And it's not just the deportations - the detention centers are also super crowded 
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. We need to have a nuanced conversation about immigration reform and find solutions that work for everyone 
. I mean, can't we just, like, pass some common-sense legislation to protect our residents? 
. This law's about time, IMHO 
. We need to make sure our law enforcement is working for us, not against us. And what about the ones who don't even know they're being targeted? 
. I'm all for protecting our citizens, but let's make sure we're doing it in a way that respects everyone's rights too 
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. And can we talk about how ICE officers are supposed to be enforcing immigration laws without putting innocent lives at risk? 
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And all these stories of innocent ppl getting killed by immigration officers are just... ugh. We need laws that protect people from that kinda thing.
. and btw, what if the whole point of this legislation is to prevent situations like that ICE officer killing in minneapolis? its not just about shielding criminals, its about making sure everyone feels safe 
The fact that there's even an incident where ICE shot someone in the first place is crazy 
Can you imagine if it happened here? We need laws that make our communities safer for everyone