New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act Rally Demands Strong Protections

(NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES) More than a hundred immigrant advocates gathered in Jersey City on November 8, 2025, pressing lawmakers to pass the Immigrant Trust Act, a bill that would limit how state and local agencies in New Jersey share information with federal immigration authorities and help protect residents from deportation.

The rally, part of a month-long push that organizers say will continue through the winter legislative session, drew community groups, local officials, and families fearful about growing enforcement activity. They say the stakes are high for immigrants who rely on schools, hospitals, and police but worry that everyday contact with government could expose them to federal action.

What the Immigrant Trust Act would do

The Immigrant Trust Act, filed as S3672/A4987, would write into law a policy that restricts cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when people interact with state or local agencies.

Supporters say the bill would:

• Establish clear, uniform rules so residents can report crimes, send children to school, or visit clinics without fearing personal data will be turned over to ICE.
• Limit routine sharing of personal details (for example, home addresses or release dates) with federal immigration authorities unless required by law or tied to a court order.
• Clarify boundaries between local policing and federal civil enforcement, which operates under different legal standards than criminal law.

They argue state rules alone are insufficient, especially after a year with a sharp rise in arrests across the region and shifting national priorities following the 2024 election.

Speakers and messaging at the Jersey City rally

At the rally, speakers framed the bill as both a civil rights measure and a public safety tool.

“We are here today to demand immediate protections for immigrants. After nearly a year under this oppressive regime, we have witnessed our community members taken from the streets, and our elected officials have faced intimidation, arrests, and threats of imprisonment,”
— Viri Martinez, New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice

Organizers urged the Legislature to act during the lame-duck window after the November election, when bills often move quickly. They emphasized continuing public outreach — forums, faith gatherings, and neighborhood canvasses — across counties to build votes for passage.

Data and urgency

Advocates cite arrest figures to underscore urgency. According to the Immigration Enforcement Dashboard, Make The Road New Jersey reports 3,202 ICE arrests in the state from January 20 through July 29, 2025.

• Community leaders say this rise has increased fear, particularly for mixed-status families where a parent may lack legal status while children are U.S. citizens.
• They argue the Immigrant Trust Act would help keep families stable by restricting when local agencies may share personal information or assist with immigration enforcement.

How this differs from existing policy

The proposal builds on the state’s Immigrant Trust Directive, issued by the New Jersey Attorney General in November 2018. That directive:

• Instructs law enforcement to avoid civil immigration enforcement except in limited cases.
• Was designed to strengthen community policing by encouraging victims and witnesses to come forward.

However, the directive is a policy rather than a statute and can be changed by a future administration. Immigrant groups say that vulnerability is the core problem and want protections written into law.

• The Attorney General’s guidance remains in place.
• Details about its scope and exceptions are posted on the state’s official website; the document is available through the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General’s immigration page at https://www.njoag.gov/programs/immigration/.

Political context and supporters

The political landscape adds pressure because newly elected Governor Mikie Sherrill has not said whether she will keep the Immigrant Trust Directive as-is. That silence has galvanized campaigners who want the Legislature to act before any executive-level change.

Support from public officials includes:

• U.S. Rep. Monicaver
• Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
• Jersey City Councilman James Solomon
• Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla
• State Sen. Raj Mukherji (bill sponsor)

Supporters frame the measure as protecting constitutional rights and maintaining public safety by ensuring people feel safe reporting crimes and seeking services. They emphasize that the bill does not stop federal agents from doing their jobs; it sets limits on how far local agencies in New Jersey should go in civil immigration enforcement, especially without a judicial warrant.

Community impact and personal stories

Families at the rally described the daily decisions they now make with increased caution:

• Parents said they plan grocery trips and school drop-offs while watching for potential stops.
• Workers described leaving early to avoid patrols near job sites.
• Community groups reported instances where victims declined to seek help out of fear that a traffic stop or hospital visit would trigger an ICE alert.

Supporters believe that codifying protections would:

• Increase reporting of crimes
• Reduce the number of unsolved cases
• Strengthen trust between immigrant communities and local government

Legal and administrative considerations

Lawmakers backing the bill argue it will:

• Provide clear, permanent rules for residents and local agencies
• Remove confusion caused by guidance-based policies that vary by administration
• Reduce liability for agencies by creating firm guardrails that are easier to train and follow

Opponents in other states have argued that strict limits can create confusion or enforcement gaps. New Jersey backers counter that clear statutory limits actually reduce confusion and help agencies maintain consistent practices.

Timeline and next steps

• The immediate push will continue through the winter legislative session, when leaders will decide whether to schedule hearings and votes.
• Sponsors say the text of S3672/A4987 reflects lessons learned since the 2018 directive and the past seven years of practice.
• Advocates will watch closely for amendments that could expand or narrow protections.

Organizers urged residents to:

1. Call district offices
2. Attend town halls
3. Share personal stories with lawmakers

They also recommended tracking developments via trusted sources, including legal service groups and statewide coalitions. Some cited coverage by VisaVerge.com as one of several regular sources for policy updates and implementation details relevant to immigrants and local agencies.

Key takeaways

• The Immigrant Trust Act seeks to convert a long-standing policy into law, aiming to protect immigrant communities from routine data-sharing with ICE.
• Supporters argue that statutory protections will promote public safety by encouraging reporting and community cooperation.
• The coming weeks and the lame-duck/winter session will be decisive in whether New Jersey’s approach becomes law or remains subject to administrative change.

The rally’s message was blunt: pass the Immigrant Trust Act now, keep neighbors safe, and make sure that a trip to school, a visit to the doctor, or a call to the police does not put a family member at risk.