New Jersey Lawmakers Fast-Track Bills to Limit ICE Cooperation After Minneapolis Shooting
A trio of bills aimed at limiting cooperation with federal immigration agents and expanding protections for immigrants is poised to be voted on by the full New Jersey Legislature, following their advancement through two legislative committees. The move comes after a similar measure languished for over a year.
The package of bills includes legislation that would codify the Immigrant Trust Directive, an attorney general order that limits cooperation between federal immigration authorities and New Jersey law enforcement. This would bar police officers from engaging in "racially influenced policing" and require agencies to develop procedures for certain visa requests. The second measure would require the state to develop policies for "sensitive locations," such as healthcare centers, schools, and shelters, where federal civil immigration enforcement is prohibited.
The bills were advanced despite opposition from Republicans on both panels, with Assemblyman Greg Myhre (R-Ocean) calling the legislation "probably the worst one out of all of them." He argued that it would promote lawlessness and make New Jersey less safe. The White House had previously criticized the move, stating that the body should focus on protecting law-abiding citizens rather than shielding criminal aliens.
The push for these bills was sparked by a recent shooting in Minneapolis during a civil immigration enforcement operation, which killed a woman. Senator Britnee Timberlake (D-Essex) called the incident a "tragic reminder" of the need for stricter protections for immigrants. She said that the federal government's direction for ICE to carry out its duties is "wrong" and that these bills are a necessary step towards safeguarding American citizens.
Lawmakers in New Jersey have been urging caution, however, as they weigh the potential consequences of enacting such measures. Senate President Nicholas Scutari expressed concerns about the bills making New Jersey a target of federal scrutiny, stating that he fears for those advocating for them getting what they ask for.
The governor's office has yet to take a stance on the bills, with Governor Phil Murphy indicating only that his final day in office is January 20.
A trio of bills aimed at limiting cooperation with federal immigration agents and expanding protections for immigrants is poised to be voted on by the full New Jersey Legislature, following their advancement through two legislative committees. The move comes after a similar measure languished for over a year.
The package of bills includes legislation that would codify the Immigrant Trust Directive, an attorney general order that limits cooperation between federal immigration authorities and New Jersey law enforcement. This would bar police officers from engaging in "racially influenced policing" and require agencies to develop procedures for certain visa requests. The second measure would require the state to develop policies for "sensitive locations," such as healthcare centers, schools, and shelters, where federal civil immigration enforcement is prohibited.
The bills were advanced despite opposition from Republicans on both panels, with Assemblyman Greg Myhre (R-Ocean) calling the legislation "probably the worst one out of all of them." He argued that it would promote lawlessness and make New Jersey less safe. The White House had previously criticized the move, stating that the body should focus on protecting law-abiding citizens rather than shielding criminal aliens.
The push for these bills was sparked by a recent shooting in Minneapolis during a civil immigration enforcement operation, which killed a woman. Senator Britnee Timberlake (D-Essex) called the incident a "tragic reminder" of the need for stricter protections for immigrants. She said that the federal government's direction for ICE to carry out its duties is "wrong" and that these bills are a necessary step towards safeguarding American citizens.
Lawmakers in New Jersey have been urging caution, however, as they weigh the potential consequences of enacting such measures. Senate President Nicholas Scutari expressed concerns about the bills making New Jersey a target of federal scrutiny, stating that he fears for those advocating for them getting what they ask for.
The governor's office has yet to take a stance on the bills, with Governor Phil Murphy indicating only that his final day in office is January 20.
. Like, can't we just stand up for our citizens' rights already? This Minneapolis shooting was a clear example of how ICE's actions are putting people's lives at risk 
. I don't care about Republicans trying to stir up drama or the White House criticizing the move - it's time for New Jersey to take control and protect its own people 
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. I'm all for having a nuanced discussion about immigration reform, but we can't just sit on our hands while innocent lives are lost because of the federal government's lax policies 
. New Jersey lawmakers need to show some courage and stand up for what's right 
. We need more politicians like Senator Timberlake who are willing to challenge the status quo 
. The governor needs to step up too - it's time to make a decision on these bills 
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This Minneapolis shooting was a tragedy, no doubt, but it's not like we haven't seen this before. What's new is that finally some lawmakers are standing up for what's right and refusing to cooperate with the feds.
And can we please just get a handle on this governor thing? Is he really gonna leave on January 20 without making his final stance on these bills known?!
its like they r tryna take a stand against racism & xenophobia 
u gotta wonder w/ the white house dissin them how much more support r we gonna get from the feds ?? 
anyway im just hyped 4 these bills theyre about time lol
. I mean, what if this law somehow makes it harder for people who are actually good eggs to get help? We gotta be careful not to accidentally hurt the ones we're trying to protect 
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. If we can figure out how to do that without having to make laws that are super divisive, then let's give it a shot 
!
, but it's like we're playing catch-up here 
. This Minneapolis shooting was a tragic incident, no doubt about it 
, but does that mean we gotta rewrite the rules on immigration? 
... and now New Jersey's taking action 
.
... it just feels like there are a lot of moving parts here 
️. What do you guys think? Should we be pushing for these bills or taking a more measured approach? 
. I mean, some people are saying its gonna make NJ less safe, which is a big worry. But others think its necessary to protect citizens, especially immigrants who are just trying to live their lives 
Can't believe NJ lawmakers are finally taking action after that Minneapolis shooting 
. We need more protections for our citizens, not less 
. And btw, I'm loving how the White House is now realizing their "protecting law-abiding citizens" rhetoric doesn't translate to real-life consequences 
. And let's be real, it's about time someone stood up to the White House and said, "You can't just target certain groups of people based on their immigration status." I mean, what's next? Are they gonna start rounding up people with student loans or something? 
But seriously, this is a huge deal. It shows that NJ is willing to take a stand against the federal government's policies and protect its citizens' rights. Kudos to Senator Timberlake for taking the lead on this one 
It's a tricky balance to strike. The Minneapolis shooting was definitely a wake-up call and all, but isn't it possible that stricter protections for immigrants could just push people underground? 
Anyway, I guess only time will tell what happens next 
I get why people want to protect immigrants and all, but at the same time, it feels like we're just creating a bigger mess. Like, how are they gonna keep track of everything? And what's with all these "sensitive locations" - isn't that just code for "don't ask questions"? 
Plus, I'm not sure if limiting ICE cooperation is really gonna make a difference... doesn't the federal government have enough to deal with without our state getting involved? 
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. And yeah, the White House is being kinda out of touch if they're worried about "lawlessness" when this kind of thing has been happening for years without anyone getting too worked up 
. Can't just leave it to the feds to decide what's best for us