A group of New Jersey Republican lawmakers is seeking to reverse a directive from the state’s liberal district attorney general that would “handcuff” cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
Rep. Greg Myre, Rep. Brian Rumpf and state Sen. Carmen Amato Jr. have garnered support from nearly a dozen Republicans in the state Legislature for a companion bill. The bill, introduced in both the state House and Senate, would repeal so-called “sanctuary state” mandates that allow local police officers to work with ICE to detain illegal immigrants.
“The New Jersey Attorney General’s directive handcuffs law enforcement, undermines public safety as a whole, and allows them to flagrantly violate the law and undermine the sovereignty of the United States,” the lawmakers said in a statement. “We are putting our people at risk by creating another class of people who are vulnerable to violence.”
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In 2018, the New Jersey State Police issued a directive prohibiting local law enforcement agencies from fully cooperating with ICE agents. (Getty Images)
New Jersey has been one of the states with the largest influx of illegal immigrants in recent months. New Jersey officials say buses of undocumented immigrants have been dropped off at various New Jersey Department of Transportation stations this year. Many of the immigrant families dropped off there then made their way to New York City on their own.
“Our attorney general will be able to resolve this matter immediately,” Mirle told FOX News Digital on Wednesday. “I would say this can be resolved legislatively, and with that level of support, the Legislature could have an effective check on the executive branch.”
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Thousands of immigrants arrived in New Jersey last year. (David Peinado/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Lawmakers said passing the bill “faces an uphill battle” among the state’s three Democratic parties. The governor is a Democrat, and Democrats control the House and Senate.
“In any case, this is a serious issue with national implications, and if we want to get serious about public safety and how state tax dollars are spent, we need to discuss it in the state Legislature,” they said. said. “We will also continue to educate the public and our colleagues in Congress about the dangers of perpetuating this lawless policy.”
Attorney General Matt Platkin’s directive, first issued in 2018, prohibits state, county, and local law enforcement agencies from assisting or even contacting ICE agents when the purpose is to enforce federal immigration law. ing.
The directive also places restrictions on law enforcement agencies regarding immigration detainees, prohibiting them from notifying individuals of impending release from detention or prolonging their detention based solely on the request of a civilian immigration detainer. ing.
Some of the 49 immigrants brought to Martha’s Vineyard by the state of Florida can now work legally in the U.S.
Migrants walk across the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass, Texas, on September 27, 2023. (Benjamin Loewy, Fox News Digital)
“This is a slap in the face to all law-abiding, tax-paying citizens who are fed up with federal and state immigration policies that are failing our country,” the lawmakers said.
According to the American Immigration Council, there are more than 500,000 illegal immigrants living in New Jersey, and about 17,000 people entered the state illegally in 2023.
FOX News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
