1. United States
2. N.J.
3. Letter

I urge you to support the three bills advanced by the Assembly Judiciary Committee on January 5, 2026, that would protect New Jersey residents from federal immigration enforcement overreach. These bills are critical to maintaining public safety and trust in our communities. The most important bill would codify the 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive, which has been in place for nearly a decade. This directive restricts when state, county, and local law enforcement can assist federal immigration authorities. Codification is essential because the directive could be withdrawn by a future attorney general, leaving immigrant communities vulnerable and undermining years of trust-building between law enforcement and residents. Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago testified that cooperation from victims and witnesses has decreased over the past year due to fear of retaliation, with years of built trust evaporating because of ICE activity. When people fear deportation, they do not report crimes, landlord violations, or wage theft. This makes entire communities less safe, not more. Immigration attorney Francesca Chabla from Make the Road New Jersey reported receiving countless calls from clients afraid to enroll children in free lunch programs or access basic services. The bills include reasonable provisions such as prohibiting racially influenced policing based on citizenship status, requiring procedures for visa certification requests from crime and trafficking victims, and establishing sensitive locations like healthcare facilities, public schools, and domestic violence shelters where immigration enforcement assistance would be barred. Similar legislation has already passed in California, Illinois, and Washington. These measures protect all New Jersey residents by ensuring that everyone can access healthcare, report crimes, and participate in community life without fear. Public safety depends on community cooperation with law enforcement, which requires trust. I ask you to vote yes on these three bills before the current legislative session ends on January 13.