New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has made his final move before leaving office, signing a bill aimed at protecting immigrants but vetoing two related measures in a move that has left advocates feeling disappointed and vulnerable.
The Safe Communities Act, which is now law, instructs the state attorney general to develop plans to safeguard "personal freedoms" in institutions such as hospitals, schools, courthouses, and places of worship. It also calls for separate policies in each setting, with agencies required to adopt these measures within 180 days.
Murphy's decision comes amidst rising Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids across the US. In a statement, he emphasized that no one should be deterred from accessing essential services due to their immigration status, saying "whether you're praying in a church, studying in school, receiving medical care at a hospital, or seeking legal relief, no one should live in fear or uncertainty."
However, Murphy vetoed two other bills as part of the package. The Privacy Protections Act would have limited government agencies and healthcare providers' ability to ask about immigration status when determining eligibility for public benefits. Murphy cited concerns over potential drafting oversight that could jeopardize billions of federal funding dollars.
The third bill aimed to codify an existing 2018 attorney general directive, which prohibits law enforcement from questioning someone based on their suspected citizenship status. Murphy expressed concern that signing this bill would open up a new court challenge and put the state's time-tested Immigrant Trust Directive at risk.
Immigration activists have criticized Murphy's decision, with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey calling it "deeply disappointing." The group believes the vetoes left communities vulnerable and urges Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill to establish data privacy protections and ensure that state and local resources are not commandeered for federal immigration enforcement.
The Safe Communities Act, which is now law, instructs the state attorney general to develop plans to safeguard "personal freedoms" in institutions such as hospitals, schools, courthouses, and places of worship. It also calls for separate policies in each setting, with agencies required to adopt these measures within 180 days.
Murphy's decision comes amidst rising Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids across the US. In a statement, he emphasized that no one should be deterred from accessing essential services due to their immigration status, saying "whether you're praying in a church, studying in school, receiving medical care at a hospital, or seeking legal relief, no one should live in fear or uncertainty."
However, Murphy vetoed two other bills as part of the package. The Privacy Protections Act would have limited government agencies and healthcare providers' ability to ask about immigration status when determining eligibility for public benefits. Murphy cited concerns over potential drafting oversight that could jeopardize billions of federal funding dollars.
The third bill aimed to codify an existing 2018 attorney general directive, which prohibits law enforcement from questioning someone based on their suspected citizenship status. Murphy expressed concern that signing this bill would open up a new court challenge and put the state's time-tested Immigrant Trust Directive at risk.
Immigration activists have criticized Murphy's decision, with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey calling it "deeply disappointing." The group believes the vetoes left communities vulnerable and urges Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill to establish data privacy protections and ensure that state and local resources are not commandeered for federal immigration enforcement.
I just can't believe Phil Murphy is leaving office and making these decisions as his final act... 
He's still trying to make a positive impact, even if it means making some tough choices 
. I get why he vetoed those bills - safety and security have to come first, right? 
But at the same time, I can see how the vetoes are gonna affect people who need help 
. Fingers crossed that Governor-elect Sherrill can build on his legacy and make some real changes soon 
!
phil murphy, the governor, signed a bill thats supposed to protect immigrants but hes also blocked 2 other bills dat wouldve helped them out even more 
anyways, immigration activists r not happy about it & its making people feel scared and unsure about accessing essential services like hospitals, schools, and churches 
the american civil liberties union of new jersey is calling out murphy for being disppointing & they want gov-elect mikie sherrill to step in & protect communities 
... So Governor Murphy is trying to be all pro-immigrant and sign a bill that's supposed to protect their rights, but then he vetoes two other bills that are pretty crucial too 
. I mean, I get it about the funding concerns and all that, but it feels like he's just making things harder for people who need help most 
.
... I don't know, maybe I'm just missing something here. It seems like Governor Murphy is trying to do the right thing but then screws it up somehow 
. Anyway, gotta keep an eye on this one 
, but governor murphy's decision to veto those two bills is like, totally underwhelming 
. the safe communities act sounds great on paper, but without those privacy protections and immigrant trust directives in place, it's like a half-measure 
. i mean, what's the point of having laws if they're just gonna be watered down by politics 
? the ACLU is right, this decision left ppl feeling vulnerable and scared 
, and now micie sherrill needs to step up and make some real changes 
It's like, what's next? 
, especially with all these ice raids happening across the us 
. But the vetoes on the Privacy Protections Act and the Immigrant Trust Directive bill really have me scratching my head 
It feels like the state is trying to balance competing priorities, but in the end, it might leave communities feeling even more uncertain and unprotected 
the safe communities act is still a step in the right direction tho 
meanwhile, immigration-related detentions have increased by 37% since 2018 
data says that people with limited english proficiency face barriers when accessing healthcare & education services 
