Yesterday, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced a directive limiting the assistance state, county, and local law enforcement agencies can give to federal immigration officials. According to the Attorney General’s Office, the “Immigrant Trust Directive,” which applies “to all state, county and local law enforcement agencies, including police, prosecutors, county detectives, sheriff’s officers, and correction officers,” states they cannot:
Stop, question, arrest, search, or detain any individual based solely on actual or suspected immigration status
Ask the immigration status of any individual, unless doing so is necessary to the ongoing investigation of a serious offense and relevant to the offense under investigation
Participate in civil immigration enforcement operations conducted by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Provide ICE with access to state or local law enforcement resources, including equipment, office space, databases, or property, unless those resources are readily available to the public
Allow ICE to interview an individual arrested on a criminal charge unless that person is advised of his or her right to a lawyer
The directive does not prohibit county and state correctional facilities from entering into contracts with ICE to hold immigrant detainees (often indefinitely) in New Jersey prisons—a practice that generates tens of millions in revenue annually. » Read More
New Jersey’s food industry – restaurants, farmers, wholesalers, distributors – have long held a close relationship with New Jersey’s immigrant communities, as both employers and employees. » Read More
With President Trump threatening a Constitutional showdown over the question of “birthright citizenship,” many New Jersey immigrants are concerned about their children—those already born and deemed US Citizens, and those who are to be born. “Birthright citizenship” is the automatic granting of US Citizenship to any child born on US soil, without regard to the citizenship or resident status of the parent. » Read More
Yesterday, the Freeholders of Hudson County, New Jersey, approved a resolution that renews a contract with Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house immigrant detainees at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny, New Jersey. The contract was extended for 2 years until December 31, 2020, with an option for County Freeholders to further extend the immigration detention agreement with ICE beyond 2020. » Read More
In July, the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Blog reported that Teresa Giudice, best known for starring in The Real Housewives of New Jersey, would soon become a “Real Housewife of Italy.” Well, Teresa may stay in New Jersey, but her husband, Giuseppe “Joe” Giudice, will be traveling by “ICE Air” on a permanent trip to Italy. » Read More
A police car with the decal “ICE” across its doors has been patrolling the streets of Princeton, New Jersey. Confusion and concern took over the small Mercer County, New Jersey immigrant community. Why? “ICE” is an acronym for Immigration & Customs Enforcement—the federal agency that enforces immigration law, including executing deportation orders, conducting worksite investigations, and more. » Read More
ACLU Sues New Jersey Schools to Change Policies Related to Immigrant Students
On Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed multiple lawsuits against school districts throughout the state of New Jersey, alleging that the schools were requiring parents to provide proof of immigration status in the United States or a valid Social Security number, violating state law. » Read More
New Jersey’s Hudson County has agreed to maintain an immigrant detention facility for years to come. Last Thursday, the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved the extension of an Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) with US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), continuing to allow the housing of immigrant detainees at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny, New Jersey. » Read More
