Activists Demand NJ Governor Condemn Escalating Immigration Tactics

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Key Takeaways

• In 2025, DOJ sued Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Hoboken over sanctuary city policies limiting ICE cooperation.
• Immigrant Trust Act would protect immigrant privacy and limit ICE info sharing; Immigration Enforcement Support Act opposes it.
• Governor Murphy supports protections but hasn’t yet passed Immigrant Trust Act; federal lawsuits continue targeting sanctuary cities.

As of July 2025, New Jersey finds itself at the center of a heated national debate over immigration enforcement, sanctuary city policies, and the rights of immigrant communities. Recent months have seen a sharp rise in federal pressure, new state and local policy proposals, and growing calls from activists for stronger protections. This update explains what has changed, who is affected, the effective dates, required actions, and the broader implications for anyone involved in or affected by immigration enforcement in New Jersey.

Summary of What Changed

Activists Demand NJ Governor Condemn Escalating Immigration Tactics

In 2025, the Trump administration renewed its focus on challenging sanctuary city policies, especially in New Jersey. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed lawsuits against several major cities in the state, including Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken. These lawsuits target local policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, especially with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

At the same time, New Jersey lawmakers are considering two major bills with very different goals:

The Immigrant Trust Act (S3672/A4987), which would strengthen protections for immigrants and limit local cooperation with ICE.
The Immigration Enforcement Support Act (A5232), which would increase local law enforcement’s role in detaining and transferring undocumented immigrants to federal authorities.

These developments have created uncertainty for immigrants, local governments, and law enforcement agencies across New Jersey. Activists are urging Governor Phil Murphy to take a stronger stand against federal enforcement tactics and to support the passage of the Immigrant Trust Act.

Who Is Affected

The current situation affects several groups:

Immigrants living in New Jersey, especially those without legal status or with mixed-status families.
Local governments and city officials in cities labeled as sanctuary jurisdictions.
Law enforcement agencies that must decide how to respond to new state and federal policies.
Community organizations and service providers that work with immigrants.
Employers, schools, and healthcare providers who serve immigrant communities.

Effective Dates

The federal lawsuits and public naming of sanctuary jurisdictions began in early 2025 and are ongoing.
The Immigrant Trust Act and Immigration Enforcement Support Act are both under consideration in the New Jersey Legislature as of July 2025. Neither has been enacted yet, but votes could happen later this year.
Governor Murphy signed several bills in early 2024 to improve protections for immigrants, but the Immigrant Trust Act remains pending.

Required Actions

For those affected by these changes, here are the immediate steps to consider:

Immigrants and families: Stay informed about your rights and any changes to local policies. Community organizations like the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice and the ACLU-NJ offer resources and legal help.
Local officials and service providers: Review your city or agency’s policies on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Prepare for possible changes if new state laws are passed.
Employers and schools: Ensure that staff understand current privacy and anti-discrimination rules, especially regarding requests for information about immigration status.
Advocates and community leaders: Continue to monitor legislative developments and participate in public comment opportunities to make your voice heard.

Key Policy Developments

Federal Targeting of Sanctuary City Policies

The Trump administration’s DOJ has taken aggressive steps against New Jersey’s sanctuary city policies. Four major cities—Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken—are facing lawsuits that challenge their limits on cooperation with ICE. The DOJ has also published a list of 21 New Jersey jurisdictions it considers sanctuary areas. This move is widely seen as an attempt to pressure local governments to change their policies.

Local leaders, such as Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, have pushed back, stating that their police do not block federal operations. However, the public naming of sanctuary cities has increased anxiety among immigrants and city officials.

The Immigrant Trust Act (S3672/A4987)

This bill is a top priority for immigrant rights groups. If passed, it would:

Limit when local and state agencies can share immigration status information with federal authorities. Only under strict conditions could this information be shared.
Ban voluntary cooperation with ICE, including holding people in jail just because of immigration requests.
Require public institutions—such as schools, hospitals, libraries, and shelters—to adopt clear policies that make immigrants feel safe using their services.
Remove exceptions that currently allow cooperation in criminal cases, which often affect Black and brown immigrants more than others.
Set up reporting requirements so the public can see if agencies are following the law.

The practical effect would be that immigrants could use essential services and report crimes without fear of being turned over to ICE. This would help build trust between immigrant communities and local authorities.

The Immigration Enforcement Support Act (A5232)

This bill, introduced by Republican lawmakers, would move New Jersey in the opposite direction. If enacted, it would:

Allow local law enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants and transfer them to ICE.
Offer financial rewards to agencies that cooperate with federal deportations.

Supporters say this would help uphold the law and improve public safety. Opponents warn it would increase fear in immigrant communities and undo years of progress on building trust.

Federal Lawsuits and Sanctuary City Designations

The DOJ’s lawsuits and public naming of sanctuary cities are designed to force local governments to cooperate more with ICE. If the federal government wins these cases, local police could be required to help with immigration raids and detentions. This has already caused fear and confusion in many communities, making some immigrants afraid to seek help or use public services.

Governor Murphy’s Position and Legislative Actions

Governor Phil Murphy has signed several bills to support immigrants, including measures to protect domestic workers and improve language access to government services. However, he has not yet fully supported the Immigrant Trust Act, which would make sanctuary protections part of state law. Activists are urging him to take a stronger stand, especially as federal pressure increases.

Stakeholder Positions and Recent Actions

Governor Phil Murphy: Supports immigrant rights and has signed several protective bills, but has not yet fully backed the Immigrant Trust Act.
Trump Administration (DOJ): Pushing lawsuits and public pressure to end sanctuary city policies in New Jersey.
Mayors of Sanctuary Cities: Defend their policies and deny blocking federal enforcement.
Immigrant Rights Groups: Urge passage of the Immigrant Trust Act and condemn federal intimidation.
Republican Legislators: Support stricter enforcement and introduced the Immigration Enforcement Support Act.

Background and Historical Context

New Jersey has a long history as a gateway for immigrants. In 2018, the state issued the Immigrant Trust Directive, which limited how much local police could help ICE. Since then, the state has passed several laws to protect immigrants, but these have faced legal and political challenges.

The Trump administration’s earlier efforts (2017-2021) to target sanctuary cities have returned in 2024-2025, with even more intensity. The state’s political landscape remains divided, with some leaders pushing for stronger protections and others calling for stricter enforcement.

Legal and Policy Analysis

Legal experts point out that states and cities have the right to decide how they use their resources and whether to help with federal immigration enforcement. This means the federal government cannot force local police to act as immigration agents. However, federal lawsuits and funding threats can put pressure on local governments.

Immigrant advocates warn that increased enforcement and public naming of sanctuary cities make people afraid to report crimes or use public services. This can harm public safety for everyone, not just immigrants.

Supporters of stricter enforcement argue that working with ICE is necessary to uphold the law and protect communities. They believe that sanctuary policies let dangerous people avoid deportation.

Policy analysts say that New Jersey is now a key battleground in the national fight over immigration enforcement and sanctuary city policies.

Implications for Pending Applications and Community Members

For immigrants with pending applications—such as green cards, asylum, or other benefits—the current climate can be stressful. While local sanctuary policies do not change federal immigration law, they can affect how safe people feel living and working in New Jersey.

If the Immigrant Trust Act passes: Immigrants may feel safer using public services and reporting crimes, knowing local agencies will not share their information with ICE except in rare cases.
If the Immigration Enforcement Support Act passes: There could be more local cooperation with ICE, leading to more detentions and deportations. Immigrants may become more fearful and less likely to seek help or report crimes.

For those with pending applications, it is important to:

Stay in contact with your immigration lawyer or accredited representative.
Keep copies of all documents and notices from immigration authorities.
Know your rights if approached by law enforcement or ICE. The ACLU-NJ and other groups provide “Know Your Rights” materials in multiple languages.

What to Watch For Next

The New Jersey Legislature will continue to debate both the Immigrant Trust Act and the Immigration Enforcement Support Act in the coming months. Votes could happen before the end of 2025.
Federal lawsuits against sanctuary cities are ongoing. The outcomes could set important legal precedents for other states.
Activists are likely to keep pressing Governor Murphy and lawmakers to strengthen protections for immigrants and to publicly oppose federal enforcement tactics.
The political climate in New Jersey could shift, especially with upcoming elections that may change the balance of power in the state legislature.

Practical Guidance and Next Steps

Immigrants and families: Stay informed about your rights. Use trusted sources like the New Jersey Governor’s Office and local advocacy groups for updates.
Community organizations: Prepare to help clients understand any changes in local policies. Offer “Know Your Rights” workshops and legal clinics.
Employers and service providers: Review your policies on privacy and anti-discrimination. Make sure staff know not to share immigration status information unless required by law.
Local officials: Monitor legislative developments and be ready to update local policies if new state laws are passed.

Official Resources

Conclusion

The debate over sanctuary city policies and immigration enforcement in New Jersey is far from settled. With federal lawsuits, new state bills, and growing activism, the next few months will be critical for the future of immigrant protections in the state. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the outcome of these battles will not only affect New Jersey but could also influence national immigration policy for years to come.

For now, immigrants, advocates, and local officials should stay alert, use official resources, and be ready to respond to changes in the law. The situation remains fluid, but by staying informed and engaged, communities can work together to protect their rights and build a safer, more welcoming New Jersey for all.

Learn Today

Sanctuary city → A city limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement to protect immigrant communities from deportation.
Immigrant Trust Act → Proposed New Jersey law limiting local sharing of immigration status and banning ICE voluntary cooperation.
Immigration Enforcement Support Act → Proposed New Jersey law increasing local law enforcement’s role in detaining undocumented immigrants for ICE.
Department of Justice (DOJ) → Federal agency leading lawsuits against New Jersey sanctuary cities for limiting ICE cooperation.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → Federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and deporting undocumented immigrants.

This Article in a Nutshell

New Jersey faces intense federal lawsuits against sanctuary policies in 2025. Pending legislation could either protect immigrant privacy or enforce stricter ICE cooperation, impacting immigrant communities deeply. The state remains a crucial battleground balancing immigrant rights and enforcement amid rising political pressure and ongoing activist campaigns.
— By VisaVerge.com