NJ Towns Named In Controversial Federal Immigration Crackdown

NEW JERSEY - The United States Department of Justice has added additional New Jersey communities to its list of those they claim are failing to follow the direction of federal agents while acting as “sanctuary” cities for immigrants.

On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that each jurisdiction would receive official notice of their noncompliance designation, with potential federal criminal statute violations under review.

Sanctuary jurisdictions are localities that refuse to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement activities.
“Sanctuary jurisdictions including cities, counties, and states that are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities. Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril,” the DHS said.
“Each jurisdiction listed will receive formal notification of its non-compliance with Federal statutes. DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with Federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens.”
In New Jersey, 18 towns and three counties were listed. They are:

1. Burlington
2. Cumberland
3. Warren
4. Asbury Park
5. Bloomfield
6. Camden
7. East Orange
8. Hoboken
9. Jersey City
10. Leonia
11. Linden
12. Maplewood
13. Montclair Township
14. Newark
15. North Bergen
16. Paterson
17. Plainfield
18. Prospect Park
19. South Orange
20. Trenton
21. Union City

The department compiled the list using several criteria, including whether cities or localities self-identified as sanctuary jurisdictions, their level of existing cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement, any restrictions they maintained on information sharing with immigration authorities, and the presence of legal protections for undocumented residents.

“These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a media release.

“We are exposing these sanctuary politicians who harbor criminal illegal aliens and defy federal law. President Trump and I will always put the safety of the American people first. Sanctuary politicians are on notice: comply with federal law.”

The cities of Trenton, Montclair, and Burlington County have all been added to a continuously growing number of jurisdictions that are set to receive official notice of their noncompliance designation, with potential federal criminal statute violations under review.

This recent addition comes after the Trump administration sued Newark, Hoboken, Jersey City and Paterson, and their Democratic mayors, saying they obstructed the access the government had to illegal aliens. Each of the four city councils are also named as defendants.

"It comes as a surprise that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security labeled Burlington County a 'sanctuary jurisdiction' and accuses the County of not following the law, without citing any examples," Burlington County spokesperson David Levinsky told Patch.

While the definition of a “sanctuary” city is not absolute, the Department of Homeland Security describes these locations as those that “protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril.”

According to CBS News, the federal government also claims, "these cities (along with their elected officials) deny federal immigration agents access to illegal aliens in local custody; restrict local officers' ability to hand over illegal aliens to federal agents; and bar otherwise willing local officers from providing mission-critical information to federal immigration authorities."

Mayor Ravi Bhalla of Hoboken, who had previously said that local law enforcement won't participate in searches for immigrants without a warrant, has spoken out against the new lawsuit, stating in part: "Our city’s tax dollars, police, and other city personnel will not be commandeered by the federal government to enforce federal immigration orders — especially those that violate the constitutional rights of our residents and non-resident visitors. It also means that in Hoboken, the law shall be applied equally regardless of immigration status. This is the American way.”

Governor Phil Murphy released the following statement on the lawsuit:

“The State of New Jersey is not a party to this lawsuit. Our Immigrant Trust Directive is settled law and has withstood judicial scrutiny. The Directive has been a cornerstone of our public safety strategy—empowering law enforcement to focus on solving and prosecuting violent and serious crimes, while ensuring that victims and witnesses of crimes can feel safe coming forward regardless of their immigration status. This is one reason why New Jersey is one of the safest states in the nation.”

In April, New Jersey's top federal prosecutor, Alina Habba – a Trump-appointee – announced that she has launched an investigation into Gov. Phil Murphy and state Attorney General Matt Platkin over a directive for local and state police not to cooperate with federal agents conducting immigration enforcement.

• See Related: U.S. Attorney Launches Investigation Into Top NJ Officials

Murphy’s administration has been largely supportive of immigration. Under his tenure, former AG Gurbir Grewal issued the "Immigrant Trust Directive," which limits cooperation between New Jersey law enforcement and immigration officials.

A total of 500 “sanctuary jurisdictions” have now been identified nationwide in Executive Order 14287, with 18 being in New Jersey.

This story contains reporting by Sarah Salvadore.