Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the end of a five-day sweep across New Jersey, netting the arrest of immigrants in 16 counties.  The operation targeted a broad range of individuals, including lawful permanent residents and other immigrants with criminal convictions as well as individuals present in the United States who have reentered after deportation or have pending criminal charges. » Read More

New Jersey’s state legislators have finally introduced legislation that will allow the state to remain compliant with the federal REAL ID standards while also issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants residing in New Jersey.

The proposed legislation creates two separate license types: (1) a Real ID compliant driver’s license that passes minimum requirements for use with the federal government; and (2) a “standard driver’s license” to be issued to New Jersey residents who satisfy all other requirements for a driver’s license but are unable to establish lawful residence in the United States.  » Read More

On Friday, the Norris McLaughlin Immigration Blog reported that New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that New Jersey would become a “sanctuary state” in implementing the “Immigrant Trust Directive.”  In response, NBC Philadelphia reported that Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) has threatened to increase immigration raids throughout New Jersey. » Read More

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

It was an honor to be interviewed by Anthony Ewing for Edible Jersey magazine.

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

Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice has finally broken her silence about the recent order deporting her real husband, Giuseppe “Joe” Giudice.  ETOnline reports that “the Real Housewives of New Jersey star is opening up exclusively to ET about. » Read More

In a recent article, “Immigrants in New Jersey: A Demographic and Economic Profile for the Midterms Elections,” contributing reporter Maria Frausto of the American Immigration Council writes that “[j]ust weeks before the midterm elections in New Jersey, immigration policy has emerged as a top issue for voters.”

Frausto notes that while “the political rhetoric on immigration may overlook important nuances about the complexity of this issue, it remains critical for the public to understand the contributions immigrants make to communities in New Jersey.  » Read More

Driver’s Licenses for New Jersey’s undocumented immigrants may have moved a step closer to reality.  In a September interview on NJ 101.5, New Jersey’s Senate President Steve Sweeney endorsed the idea—which was integral in advancing any legislative measure.  While Sweeney did not support any specific legislation, Nicholas Pugliese, staff writer for the Record’s Trenton Bureau, reported that the legislation at the center of the debate in Trenton is the New Jersey Safe and Responsible Driver Act. » Read More

In May, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed off on legislation that extended financial aid to many undocumented immigrants in New Jersey.  Since then, 1,365 undocumented students have submitted applications for financial aid for the 2018-2019 academic year, according to the New Jersey Record.  » Read More