Police car at the scene of a criminal related incident
Police car at the scene of a criminal related incident

Cranford Police reaffirm commitment to New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive

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1 min read
January 30, 2026

CRANFORD, NJ – The Cranford Police Department is reminding residents of its ongoing adherence to New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive, a statewide policy designed to strengthen trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities.

In a statement shared Friday, the department said it wanted to provide clarity “for residents who may have questions or concerns about the role of New Jersey’s law enforcement regarding immigration laws.” Officials emphasized that individuals should always feel safe contacting police for help, regardless of immigration status.

The Immigrant Trust Directive, first issued in 2018 by then–Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, draws a clear distinction between local and state police—who enforce criminal laws—and federal immigration authorities such as ICE, who enforce civil immigration laws. The policy restricts local law enforcement from participating in federal immigration enforcement operations or inquiring about a person’s immigration status unless directly relevant to a criminal investigation.

Under the directive, New Jersey police officers cannot stop or detain individuals based solely on immigration status, participate in ICE enforcement operations, or hold someone in custody beyond their release date solely because of an ICE detainer.

  • The Cranford Police Department reaffirmed its compliance with New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive.
  • The policy prohibits local law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration laws.
  • Residents are encouraged to report crimes or seek assistance without fear of deportation.

For more information about the directive and its guidelines, residents can visit nj.gov/trust, maintained by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

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