Politics & Government
NJ Bans Prisons From Making Deals To Hold Immigrants For ICE
Gov. Phil Murphy signed the landmark legislation into law on Friday, acting after months of increasingly vocal demands from advocates.
NEW JERSEY — New Jersey is now among a handful of states to ban prisons from making deals with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold federal immigration detainees.
Gov. Phil Murphy signed the landmark legislation into law on Friday, acting after months of increasingly vocal demands from advocates and family members of detainees awaiting deportation.
The bills, A-5207/S-3361, ban all prisons in the state – public or private – from making new contracts with ICE. Prisons also won’t be able to expand or renew old agreements. The law takes effect immediately.
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The law won’t terminate existing contracts with ICE, however, including controversial renewals at the Elizabeth Detention Center in Union County and the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny.
- See related article: No More ICE Detainees In Essex County – Is New Jersey Ban Next?
- See related article: Banning Future ICE Contracts In NJ Isn't Enough, Activists Argue
New Jersey is the third state with full bans on ICE renewals. Just last month, Illinois joined California in banning and ending all ICE agreements in the state. Washington state also bans private ICE detention agreements, according to the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.
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“For far too long, New Jersey has enabled and profited from ICE’s cruel immigration detention system that tears apart families and communities,” Sarah Fajardo of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey said.
“With the signing of this bill, New Jersey is taking a first step towards ending its complicity in the mass detention of noncitizens,” Fajardo said.
In the last five years, more than 15,000 immigrants have been ordered deported following court decisions in the Garden State, including over 4,000 in the 2020 fiscal year, according to a recent study from New Jersey Policy Perspective.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
In response to @GovMurphy signing S3361/A5207, @MaketheRoadNJ member & former ICE detainee, Juli said the following: “No one should live and work in fear in our state. This is an important step towards recognizing the dignity of immigrant communities.” #NJforAll Full statement pic.twitter.com/F5CrLapMn6
— Make the Road New Jersey (@MaketheRoadNJ) August 20, 2021
With @GovMurphy’s signature, NJ barred entering and renewing ICE detention contracts. So many for so long have called to end putting community members in cages. NJ took action to ensure people don’t just have support in words, but protection by law. https://t.co/m2BO3HqWbz
— ACLU of New Jersey (@ACLUNJ) August 20, 2021
NJ became the 4th state with similar bans on ICE detention following CA, IL, & WA. Reminder, NJ still has 4 ICE detention contracts. 3 county and one private. Elizabeth (Private CoreCivic ) Hudson ICE contract Bergen ICE contact Essex County "Vacated" but ended??
— NJ Immigrant Justice (@NJAIJ) August 20, 2021
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