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

I am writing to urge you to support A4446, legislation designed to fight unlawful conduct and keep individuals and communities empowered. This bill would strengthen state protections against overreach by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and ensure that constitutional rights are upheld in New Jersey. The need for this legislation became clear following the recent detention of ten people outside a light rail station on the border of Hoboken and Jersey City. A viral video from that incident showed ICE agents confronting Jersey City Councilman Jake Ephros, with agents allegedly stating they don't need warrants to detain people off the street. This disregard for due process and constitutional protections is precisely why A4446 is necessary. Assembly members Ravi Bhalla and Katie Brennan, along with Assemblywomen Annette Quijano and Alixon Collazos-Gill, have introduced this legislation to give local law enforcement the tools they need to do their jobs properly while preventing raids that destabilize our communities. As Assemblyman Bhalla noted, these protections build on successful sanctuary city policies already implemented in Hoboken and other municipalities. New Jersey is joining other states in recognizing that federal immigration enforcement must respect constitutional boundaries. New Mexico recently advanced legislation prohibiting contracts with the federal government to detain those accused of violating immigration laws. Maryland lawmakers are considering bills to terminate agreements between local police and federal immigration agencies. These states understand that community safety depends on trust between residents and local law enforcement, which is undermined when people fear arbitrary detention without warrants. A4446 protects the constitutional rights of all New Jersey residents while ensuring that local law enforcement can focus on genuine public safety priorities. I urge you to support this legislation and stand up for due process and community safety in our state.