Princeton Adopts Resolution In Support Of The Immigrant Trust Act

PRINCETON, NJ – In what is seen as a victory for the local immigrant community, the Council passed a resolution on Monday supporting the Immigrant Trust Act.

With this, Princeton becomes the 14th municipality in the state to support this act.

“This is a victory from the bottom up, where we have made history by mobilizing people power to make changes in local policies,” said Ana Paola Pazmiño, Executive Director of Resistencia en Acción NJ.

S3672/A4987 , or the Immigrant Trust Act, establishes protections for immigrant communities at the state level by limiting the state and local law enforcement's involvement in federal immigration enforcement.

Once passed at the state level, the ITA will limit New Jersey’s involvement in the federal detention and deportation system by creating new data privacy protections for people who interact with state and local agencies, and by strengthening and codifying the separation between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement, according to the ACLU.

On Monday, several community members and local advocates attended the council meeting to witness the passage of the resolution.

Pressure to pass the resolution mounted over the past few weeks, after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid ensnared 15 people who were headed to work at a landscaping company in late August.

“I’m very thankful that you passed this. In the end, we believe we will win because we have no other ender choice,” said David Schraeger, Vice President of Resistencia en Acción NJ.

Ahead of passing the resolution, Councilwoman Leticia Fraga praised the police department for their role in building trust and fostering understanding. She acknowledged the essential services provided by staff across human services and health departments, which address diverse community needs.

“Their compassion and expertise create a safety net that uplifts individuals and families, helping them to thrive in our community. I encourage everyone here today to remember the vital role these professionals play and to actively refer anyone in need of assistance to contact us, whether someone is facing challenges related to health, housing, legal concerns, or other social services,” Fraga said.

Councilman Leighton Newlin emphasized that while the governing body is committed to protecting the dignity of local immigrants, it would not be governed by ultimatums. His comments addressed pressure from advocacy groups who had pushed for faster action on the resolution.

"It is not enough to be loud; we must be smart. It's not enough to be visible; we must be effective," Newlin said. "The work of protecting people in this climate is not about who can grab the microphone. It's about the work we do collectively and being our brothers and our sisters' keeper."

Newlin added that the resolution serves as "a shield for an entire community to stand under together," rather than a banner for any single group to claim.

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