Immigration in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 328: "Unifying Families and Bringing them Home Act"; requires AG to establish program to relocated persons unlawfully in State.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a program that pays for relocating undocumented immigrants (those unlawfully present in the state) and their consenting immediate family members (spouse, domestic partner, children under 21, or legal ward) to their country of origin or an "authorized settlement country." It prohibits the state from sharing relocation participants' information with federal authorities if their only violation is immigration law, and imposes penalties - including up to 18 months in jail, $10,000 fines, or repayment of relocation costs - for re-entering the state unlawfully after participating. The program aims to reduce state costs associated with services like healthcare and education for this population.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4167: Limits use of State, county, and municipal property or funding to support immigrant detention facilities.

This bill prohibits New Jersey state and local governments (including counties and municipalities) from using public funds or property to support immigrant detention facilities. Specifically, it bans state/local spending on constructing, renovating, or leasing public property for detention, paying private facility costs, or covering detention expenses for privately-owned facilities. The law allows public health and safety resources for detained individuals but does not affect existing detention operations. It directly affects state/local budgets and property decisions related to immigration enforcement. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

died · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4446: Establishes "Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered Act"; permits civil action for violations of US Constitution related to immigration enforcement.

This New Jersey bill establishes a legal pathway for individuals to sue when immigration enforcement actions violate the U.S. Constitution. It permits civil lawsuits against law enforcement officers or agencies conducting immigration enforcement who knowingly breach constitutional rights, allowing successful plaintiffs to recover monetary damages (including punitive damages), attorney fees, and other relief. Key provisions require courts to consider factors like whether officers failed to identify themselves, wore facial coverings, bypassed body cameras, used crowd control equipment, or violated court orders when determining punitive damages. The bill explicitly states that qualified immunity remains a valid defense against such lawsuits. It directly affects individuals subjected to immigration enforcement and law enforcement officers or agencies involved in those actions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1835: Requires AG to repeal law enforcement directive restricting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal a 2018 directive (No. 2018-6) that limited local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The directive previously prohibited police from sharing certain information with immigration officials - such as notifying them about detained individuals' release dates or extending detention solely based on immigration requests - when immigration enforcement was the sole purpose. The bill directly affects state, county, and local police departments by removing these restrictions on sharing information with federal immigration authorities. It aims to restore full cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies, as specified in the directive's current provisions. The repeal would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SR 58: Directs AG to repeal and amend certain provisions of directive restricting law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

This bill (SR 58) directs New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal and modify a 2018 law enforcement directive that limited local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It specifically removes restrictions preventing state/local law enforcement from sharing immigration status information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while preserving protections for T-Visa (human trafficking victims) and U-Visa (crime victim) certifications. The resolution aims to enable law enforcement to share immigration status details without legal barriers, citing concerns about community safety and coordination with federal agencies. It does not create new laws but directs the Attorney General to update existing policy, with exceptions for victim protection provisions.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 311: Requires certification that persons directly or indirectly receiving State monies or privileges are not unauthorized aliens.

This bill requires individuals and employers applying for state benefits - including contracts, loans, tax breaks, grants, or licenses - to certify that their presence in the U.S. is authorized under federal law. It directly affects anyone seeking these state-provided benefits or privileges. The key mechanism is a standardized certification form (created by the Department of Labor) that applicants must sign, stating they’ve verified eligibility for employment or legal status, with penalties only for knowingly false statements. The bill mandates that state agencies incorporate this form into existing application processes rather than creating a new system.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Work Authorization

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 307: Requires Secretary of State to adjust census redistricting data to remove noncitizens for redistricting purposes in this State.

This bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of State to adjust census data used for redistricting by removing all noncitizens (including legal residents and undocumented individuals) from population counts. It directly affects all New Jersey legislative, county, and municipal districts, as these boundaries would be redrawn based solely on the citizen population. The key mechanism mandates that the Secretary of State exclude noncitizens from census data when establishing district lines, per Section 2 of the bill. This changes how districts are drawn to reflect only citizen residents, rather than the full population count used in current redistricting.

Topics ✗ Immigration

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 23, 2026

S 3522: Establishes "Privacy Protection Act"; concerns collection and sharing of certain personal information.

This bill prohibits New Jersey government entities and healthcare facilities from collecting or sharing certain personal information, including immigration status, citizenship, birthplace, Social Security numbers, and tax IDs, except when necessary to provide public services or benefits. It prevents these entities from disclosing such information publicly, except under specific legal circumstances like court orders, subpoenas, or when required for election eligibility. The bill also specifically restricts the sale or sharing of automated license plate recognition data collected by government agencies. These provisions aim to limit unnecessary data collection and protect individuals seeking public services or healthcare.

Topics ✓ Immigration ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Data Privacy

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 325: "Imprisoning Illegal Aliens Act;" allows State and local entities and private detention facilities to enter into agreements to detain noncitizens.

This bill, formally titled "Imprisoning Illegal Aliens Act" but actually repealing New Jersey's current ban, would allow state/local governments and private detention facilities to enter into agreements for detaining noncitizens under civil immigration law. Currently, New Jersey law prohibits such agreements (for contracts related to housing or detaining noncitizens for immigration violations), but this bill removes that restriction. The key change is replacing "shall not" with "may" for entering these agreements, effective immediately upon passage. It directly affects New Jersey's counties, sheriffs, municipalities, and private detention facilities that previously could not participate in immigration detention contracts.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3514: Adds training concerning coercive control to domestic violence training for judges and law enforcement officers.

This bill requires judges, law enforcement officers, and court personnel in New Jersey to receive updated training on domestic violence, specifically adding instruction about "coercive control." Coercive control refers to patterns of controlling behavior, such as isolating victims from support networks, monitoring their movements, threatening immigration status, or making false reports to authorities. The training must cover recognizing these indicators, understanding trauma, safety planning, and racial bias impacts. Existing training curricula for these groups will be revised to include these requirements, ensuring consistent, informed responses to domestic violence cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

All immigration bills