New Jersey lawmakers are racing against time to solidify a state law that would limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities during Governor Phil Murphy's final weeks in office. The proposed changes, which aim to close loopholes in the current Immigrant Trust Directive, could have far-reaching implications for immigrant communities and undermine due process.
Under the current directive, law enforcement officials can share information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) even if a person is never found guilty of a crime. However, new legislation would require that a person be convicted before their information is disclosed to federal immigration authorities. This change aims to prevent people from being funneled into deportation proceedings before their cases are resolved.
Assemblymember Ellen Park, who sponsored the bills, emphasized the need for this change, saying, "Our equal protections and due process have been thrown out the window." The legislation also restricts police stops based on suspected immigration status and designates sensitive locations where staff could not assist ICE. Additionally, it bars immigration enforcement in these areas.
Immigrant rights advocates argue that the current directive allows for people to be detained and deported while their charges are later dropped. They claim that this has led to a breakdown in trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, with some individuals hesitant to report crimes or seek medical care due to fear of ICE involvement.
The push for these changes comes just weeks before Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill takes office, raising concerns about the potential for court battles. However, proponents argue that it is essential to reiterate the principle of "innocent until proven guilty." The bills have been met with support from law enforcement officials and advocacy groups, including the New Jersey ACLU and Make the Road New Jersey.
The package's passage in the Judiciary Committee vote has sparked debate about the constitutionality of these changes. Republican lawmakers questioned why the legislation was necessary, but ultimately supported its progression to further discussions in other committees.
Under the current directive, law enforcement officials can share information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) even if a person is never found guilty of a crime. However, new legislation would require that a person be convicted before their information is disclosed to federal immigration authorities. This change aims to prevent people from being funneled into deportation proceedings before their cases are resolved.
Assemblymember Ellen Park, who sponsored the bills, emphasized the need for this change, saying, "Our equal protections and due process have been thrown out the window." The legislation also restricts police stops based on suspected immigration status and designates sensitive locations where staff could not assist ICE. Additionally, it bars immigration enforcement in these areas.
Immigrant rights advocates argue that the current directive allows for people to be detained and deported while their charges are later dropped. They claim that this has led to a breakdown in trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, with some individuals hesitant to report crimes or seek medical care due to fear of ICE involvement.
The push for these changes comes just weeks before Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill takes office, raising concerns about the potential for court battles. However, proponents argue that it is essential to reiterate the principle of "innocent until proven guilty." The bills have been met with support from law enforcement officials and advocacy groups, including the New Jersey ACLU and Make the Road New Jersey.
The package's passage in the Judiciary Committee vote has sparked debate about the constitutionality of these changes. Republican lawmakers questioned why the legislation was necessary, but ultimately supported its progression to further discussions in other committees.
. I mean, it's crazy that law enforcement can share info with ICE without even having to convict someone first. It's like they're assuming the person is guilty just 'cause they're living in Jersey 
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. And I'm stoked that advocacy groups like the ACLU are on board with this change! It's gonna be interesting to see how it all plays out in court, but for now, I think most people would agree that our due process is being thrown out the window 
. It feels like we're getting into a gray area where due process is kinda sorta compromised 
. I get that it's meant to protect immigrants from being deported without a conviction, but aren't we just setting a precedent for how far we'll go in the name of "safety"? What if this becomes a slippery slope? And have we considered the impact on law enforcement itself? Will they feel like their hands are tied because of these restrictions? 
I'm all for protecting immigrant communities, but we gotta make sure we're not sacrificing one set of rights for another 
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but seriously this makes total sense - I mean who wants to be deported just because the cops think you might be a bad guy? that's just unfair fam. and yeah i get why there's debate about it, but i think it's great that people like Ellen Park and the ACLU are pushing for change, maybe we can learn from NJ's example 
. btw have you heard the one about why the immigrant went to the party? because he heard it was a "green" card event 
rather than some random person who might not get charged. And what's with the whole "innocent until proven guilty" thing - isn't that just basic human rights stuff? 
Interesting, I wonder how this is gonna play out in court...
meanwhile gov murphy is leaving office and it's like the baton has been passed to mikie sherrill who might not be as on board with this new law 
what if the republicans try to block it or even sue? it'll be like, totally unpredictable 
anyway i guess its all about reiterating that principle of "innocent until proven guilty" and giving people a chance to actually fight their cases without being deported while their charges are still pending 
and it's crazy how ppl r sayin we gotta keep the "innocent until proven guilty" principle or else we'll have a total breakdown in trust... but idk man, that sounds like a pretty solid foundation 2 me 
. Did you know that since 2010, ICE has arrested over 1.4 million immigrants in the US? 
Like, what's the goal here? We're talkin' 'bout close to 400k people gettin' detained every year, and it's all based on info shared by law enforcement... 
I mean, we gotta protect due process, right? 
But what if this new law actually helps prevent wrongful detentions? 
We need some data to figure that out...
And, fun fact, did you know that since 2011, the number of deportations has decreased by 45%? 
Maybe we're finally startin' to get this immigration thing right?