A proposal has been filed by a group of New Jersey Republican lawmakers to repeal all the state’s “sanctuary” state policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration crackdowns.
The proposal seeks to revoke the 2018 directive by the state Attorney General. The directive currently limits the cooperation between local law enforcement officials and agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in cases involving individuals suspected of illegal entry into the country.
According to the Republicans supporting the proposal, the directive from the Attorney General is believed to restrict law enforcement and jeopardize public safety. They argue that it creates a separate group of individuals who are allowed to openly violate the law and undermine the sovereignty of the United States.
In a statement, GOP lawmakers expressed their concerns about New Jersey’s sanctuary state policies. They believe that these policies not only provide a safe haven for individuals who entered the country illegally, but also reward them with taxpayer-funded benefits. According to them, this is unfair to law-abiding citizens who are frustrated with immigration policies at both the federal and state levels, which they believe are failing the nation.
New Jersey officials have dismissed the allegations that the state provides sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. According to the directive from the Attorney General, New Jersey law enforcement officers are not allowed to interrogate or detain an individual solely based on their suspected illegal immigration status. These rules prevent police officers from inquiring about someone’s immigration status unless it is relevant to a criminal investigation.
The Republicans are currently pushing to repeal the AG’s directive as they have observed busloads of migrants from Texas and other border states being dropped off in New Jersey, which is a strategic move to bypass New York City’s executive order that limits drop-off times.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, over 200 local and state governments have implemented policies that restrict their cooperation with federal requests to detain individuals for potential deportation.
According to immigrant advocates and certain Democrats, the mandatory cooperation between local police and federal immigration agents actually undermines community safety. They argue that this policy discourages individuals from reporting crimes, as they fear that doing so may lead to deportation.
Critics argue that sanctuaries impede criminal and terrorist investigations, advocating for local law enforcement to collaborate with federal authorities in enforcing the law amidst a significant increase in immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Illegal immigration has taken center stage in the presidential election, with Republican candidate Donald Trump vowing to carry out mass deportations if he wins in November. Throughout his presidency, Trump had promised to penalize sanctuary states by withholding federal funding. However, these plans were met with opposition and were subsequently hindered by various legal challenges in federal courts.
New Jersey Republicans acknowledge that the repeal of the sanctuary state directive will be a challenging endeavor in the Legislature, which is currently controlled by Democrats and has shown resistance to altering the existing policy.
“This is a crucial matter with significant national implications that demands thorough deliberation by the State Legislature if we are genuinely committed to upholding public safety and ensuring the responsible allocation of state tax funds,” emphasized the lawmakers. “Moreover, we will persistently educate both the public and our fellow legislators about the perils associated with perpetuating such an anarchic policy.”