(TRENTON, NJ, January 13, 2026) — New Jersey lawmakers have advanced a package of bills designed to protect immigrant communities, sending the legislation to Gov. Phil Murphy for consideration amid increased scrutiny of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The bills aim to limit cooperation between state and local law enforcement and ICE, and to strengthen protections for immigrant residents.
- New Jersey lawmakers have passed three bills intended to protect immigrants.
- The legislation limits collaboration between state and local agencies and ICE.
- The bills were advanced following a fatal shooting of a man by ICE in Minnesota.
- Governor Murphy will now consider the bills.
The New Jersey Senate and Assembly have passed three bills that seek to shield immigrant communities from ICE enforcement actions, according to reports from WHYY and Politico. The legislation comes after a recent fatal shooting involving ICE in Minnesota, which sparked renewed calls for greater oversight of the agency, the New Jersey Monitor reported.
Details of the Legislation
One of the bills prohibits state and local law enforcement from assisting ICE with investigations or detentions unless required by a warrant, WHYY reported. Another bill restricts the sharing of information between state agencies and ICE, and the third aims to protect personal information from being used for immigration enforcement purposes, according to the New Jersey Senate Democrats.
The bills were approved with largely party-line votes, Politico noted, reflecting a broader national trend of states and cities seeking to limit their cooperation with ICE, particularly under the Trump administration and continuing with the Biden administration. The New York Times reported on a wider push to expand the rights of immigrants in defiance of former President Trump’s policies.
Why It Matters
These bills represent a significant step toward establishing New Jersey as a sanctuary state, offering greater protections for immigrant residents and limiting the reach of federal immigration enforcement within state borders. The legislation underscores a growing tension between state and federal authority regarding immigration policy, particularly as ICE faces increased scrutiny over its tactics and operations.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by The New York Times, New Jersey Monitor, Politico, WHYY, and New Jersey Senate Democrats and added independent analysis and context.
