TRENTON, N.J. — A bill introduced in the New Jersey Senate would prohibit the use of state funds to provide legal assistance to individuals facing detention or deportation due to their immigration status.
Sponsored by Senator Michael L. Testa, Jr. (District 1 – Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland) and Senator James W. Holzapfel (District 10 – Monmouth and Ocean), the legislation directly targets funding directed to public agencies or nonprofit organizations that assist immigrants in removal proceedings.
Under the bill, state funds cannot be used directly or indirectly — including through contracts or grants — to support legal services for immigrants involved in deportation or detention cases. The measure would immediately take effect if signed into law.
According to the bill’s statement, the legislation is intended to counter a provision in Governor Phil Murphy’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget, which allocates up to $8.2 million for Legal Services of New Jersey to assist individuals at risk of immigration-related detention or deportation.
The bill would prevent that funding from being used to support efforts such as the Office of Immigration Protection, which was established to coordinate legal defense and resources for immigrants facing removal.