NJ spots listed in targeted sanctuary towns, counties
By: Manahil Ahmad
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... A new federal directive named a multitude of counties and cities in New Jersey as sanctuary jurisdictions highlighted because the government said they are defying immigration law.
.....
Executive order 14287: Protecting American Communities for Criminal Aliens requires the publication of a list of states and local jurisdictions that obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws. According to the Department of Homeland Security, sanctuary jurisdictions - including cites, counties and states - are "deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws," which the department says endangers American communities and puts law enforcement in peril.
..... Jurisdictions are identified based on factors such as compliance with federal law enforcement, information restitutions and legal protections for undocumented immigrants. Each will receive formal notification of its noncompliance with federal statues. DHS is demanding that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their polices to align with federal immigration laws.
..... In New Jersey, the following were listed:
Counties
* Burlington county
* Cumberland County
* Warren County
Cities
* Asbury Park
* Bloomfield
* Camden
* East Orange
* Hoboken
* Jersey City
* Leonia
* Linden
*Maplewood
* Montclair
* Newark
* North Bergen
* Paterson
* Plainfield
* Prospect Park
* South Orange
* Union City
..... The move drew swift criticism from immigrants rights advocates. Ina statement issued May 29. [2025] the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice called the memo "a choreographed attempt to intimidate local and state leaders,' emphasizing the sanctuary polices across the state are in compliance with federal law.
.....
"Today's [05/29/2025] memo marks a turning point in th4e Trump administration's blatant abuse of power by suggesting that DHS has the authority to dictate local and state laws," NJAIJ stated. The group urged all named jurisdictions to stand firm, applauding Newark, Paterson, Jersey city and Hoboken for publicly defending their sanctuary polices.
..... Several political leaders issued strong responses.
..... Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, running in the June Democratic gubernatorial primary wrote on social media:
....."Jersey city gets sued for begin a sanctuary city - I guest MAGA ran out of conspiracy theories for the week. Here is the truth: Jersey City's policies protect families, reflect our values and have led to record low crime ates. As governor, I won't be bullied. We'll fight this - and win."
..... Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, also a primary contender, called the lawsuit against his city "absurd."
..... "We are not standing in the way of public safety. We are upholding the Constitution providing oversight and following the law and guidelines of the state of New Jersey," he said. "what we refuse to do is turn our city into an arm of federal immigration enforcement, which the courts have already ruled is not our role."
.....
South Orange village President Sheena Collum also weighed in, defending the town's sanctuary designation and denouncing the federal order as a distraction.
..... "This nonsense is meant to distract you from the fact that over 300,000 people on Medicaid will lose their health insurance in New Jersey," Collum said.
..... She
added that South Orange does not condition services on immigration status, does not profile or report individuals base on their background, and will not assist in augmenting federal immigration enforcement: "In short, we're not your frigging' dance partner. Find someone else."
..... Hoboken Mayor Ravi S, Bhalla issued a statement reaffirmation his city's 2018 declaration as a "Fair and Welcoming city.""In Hoboken, our city's tax dollars, police and other 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," Bhalla wrote.
..... He called the Trump administration's actions "barbaric" and said Hoboken will not aid what he described as lawlessness:
..... "To be clear: we will not back down."
..... The full list of sanctuary jurisdictions nationwide can be found at www.dhs.gov/sancturay-juisdicitons .