TRENTON, NJ – A new bill, unlikely to be moved by Senate Democrats in New Jersey would allow police to work with ICE and the federal government to allow criminal illegal aliens to be detained for immigration violations has been introduced in New Jersey.
Introduced on June 20, 2024, by Senator Carmen F. Amato, Jr. of District 9 (Ocean), Senate Bill No. 3462 seeks to allow state and local government agencies, as well as private detention facilities, to enter into agreements for detaining noncitizens on civil immigration violations.
Bill S3462 aims to amend and repeal specific sections of P.L.2021, c.199, effectively changing the current legal stance which prohibits such agreements. Specifically, the bill would amend Section 2 of P.L.2021, c.199 to enable the State or any local government agency, along with private detention facilities, to initiate, renew, or extend immigration detention agreements. The definition of an immigration detention agreement encompasses any contract, agreement, intergovernmental service agreement, or memorandum of understanding that permits the aforementioned entities to house or detain individuals for civil immigration violations.
Further, the bill also proposes the repeal of Section 1 of P.L.2021, c.199, which currently restricts these practices. The statement accompanying the bill clarifies that its intent is to authorize such agreements, which were previously restricted under the existing law.
This legislative change, if enacted, will take immediate effect, reflecting a significant shift in New Jersey’s approach to handling civil immigration detentions.
