A group of New Jersey Republicans, led by Assemblymen Greg Myhre and Brian Rumpf, along with state Sen. Carmen Amato Jr., are working to reverse a directive from the state’s district attorney general that restricts local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration officials. The lawmakers have introduced companion bills in both the state Assembly and Senate that would repeal the so-called “sanctuary state” directive, allowing local police officers to coordinate with ICE to detain illegal migrants. They argue that the directive undermines public safety, creating a separate class of individuals who are permitted to break the law and undermine U.S. sovereignty.
New Jersey has been overwhelmed by illegal migrant arrivals, with buses dropping off undocumented migrants at various NJ Transit train stations. Many of these families then make their way to New York City. The Republican lawmakers behind the bill believe that the state’s attorney general could address the issue immediately, but they are pursuing legislative action in order to check the executive branch. However, given that the state’s governor and legislature are controlled by Democrats, they acknowledge that the bill’s passage may face an uphill battle. They see the issue as having national implications and believe that it should be debated by the state legislature to ensure public safety and responsible spending of state tax dollars.
Attorney General Matt Platkin’s directive, which was first issued in 2018, prohibits state, county, and local law enforcement agencies from assisting or communicating with ICE agents for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration law. The directive also places limitations on law enforcement regarding immigration detainers, preventing them from notifying individuals of their impending release from custody or extending detention solely based on civil immigration detainer requests. The Republican lawmakers view this directive as a disservice to law-abiding citizens who are frustrated with federal and state immigration policies that they believe are failing the nation.
According to the American Immigration Council, there are approximately 500,000 illegal migrants living in New Jersey, with roughly 17,000 entering the state illegally in 2023. The Republican lawmakers behind the bill are continuing to push for its passage, despite facing challenges in the Democratic-controlled state government. They are committed to educating the public and their colleagues in the legislature on the dangers of perpetuating what they view as a lawless policy. They argue that allowing illegal migrants to flagrantly break the law and avoid consequences not only undermines public safety but also calls into question the responsible use of state tax dollars that could be better allocated to benefit law-abiding citizens.
The lawmakers are framing their efforts as a necessary step to address a serious issue with national implications. They believe that the sanctuary state directive not only poses risks to public safety but also sends the wrong message to both law-abiding citizens and illegal migrants. By repealing the directive and allowing local law enforcement to coordinate with federal immigration officials, the lawmakers hope to restore order and uphold the rule of law in New Jersey. Despite the challenges they face in a Democratic-controlled government, they remain committed to their cause and are working to build support for their bill among their colleagues and the public.
