Pro-Immigration, ICE Limitation Resolutions Pass In Parsippany

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Parsippany council members have narrowly passed two resolutions that would support immigrant rights while also opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in the town.

At their most recent council meeting, Parsippany officials passed a resolution endorsing three legislative acts concerning statewide immigration policies, two of which were vetoed by former Governor Phil Murphy hours before he left office.

The Parsippany-endorsed policy that was passed by the former governor was the Safe Communities Act.

The Safe Communities Act, or Bill A6308, designates areas including schools, hospitals, shelters, courthouses, places of worship, and more as locations in which federal civil law enforcement initiatives could not be carried out.

The other two acts, which were endorsed by Parsippany officials but were not signed into state law were the Privacy Protection Act, which would’ve restricted local law enforcement from disclosing the immigration status of residents to ICE agents within their jurisdiction, and the Immigrant Trust Act, which would’ve codified the Immigrant Trust Directive into law, with some amendments.

The resolution to support the three acts passed 3–2 with Council President Judy Hernandez, Council Vice President Diya Patel, and Councilman Matthew Kavanaugh voting ‘yes,’ and Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr. and Councilman Matt McGrath voting ‘no.’

Learn more about the laws here: Former-Gov. Murphy Faces Backlash For NJ Immigration Bill Vetoes

During the same meeting, the council passed a resolution that opposes the establishment of ICE facilities/detention centers within the township.

The resolution was passed, with Hernandez, Patel, and Kavanaugh voting in favor, and Carifi and McGrath opposing.

The resolution comes after ICE announced plans to transform a Roxbury warehouse into a detention center capable of fitting 1,500 people.

The proposed facility has been met with backlash from residents as well as New Jersey lawmakers.

According to the Washington Post, a location in Roxbury will become one of several warehouse-turned-detention facilities across the country. The report added that the plans were unfinalized drafts and “subject to changes.”

TAPinto Roxbury has reported that Roxbury officials are opposing the plan, but whether the plans to create the facility will be followed through with remains to be seen.

It should be noted that there are no known plans to establish an ICE facility in Parsippany at this moment in time.

Read More: New ICE Facility Proposed In Morris County Sparks Backlash