Undocumented - Shore News Network

Murphy credits progressive policies for New Jersey’s growth, downplays impact of undocumented immigrants

Breaking Local News ReportFebruary 2, 20250

TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Phil Murphy said New Jersey’s population growth is being driven by its policies on abortion rights and LGBTQ+ protections, rather than the state’s large undocumented immigrant population. “The good news is we’re hot… People are moving in,” Murphy said. He cited a recent Los Angeles Times report suggesting that internal migration within the U.S. is increasingly tied to access to reproductive rights and other freedoms. “Most of them are, I think, moving in for the right reasons. Some of them are moving in for the wrong reasons,” he added, clarifying that while New Jersey benefits, the

Murphy admits to housing undocumented immigrant, challenges federal authorities: Try to get her

Breaking Local News ReportFebruary 2, 20250

TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Phil Murphy revealed that he and First Lady Tammy Murphy are providing housing for an undocumented immigrant at their home, openly challenging federal authorities to take action. Murphy made the remarks while discussing immigration policy, stating that he and his wife offered housing to someone in their “broader universe” who has not yet resolved their immigration status. “We said, you know what, let’s have her live at our house above our garage, and good luck to the feds coming in to try to get her,” Murphy said. The comments come as Murphy continues to position New

Should Undocumented Families Pay for School Tuition in New Jersey? One Legislator Says Yes

Breaking Local News ReportJanuary 27, 20250

TRENTON, NJ — A new bill introduced in New Jersey, titled the “Protecting Legally-Present Youngsters’ Limited Educational Resources (PLYLER) Act,” seeks to require students who are not U.S. citizens, legal immigrants, or in the process of obtaining legal status to pay tuition to attend public schools in the state. The bill was presented by New Jersey Assemblyman Paul Kanitra (R-Ocean County). The bill, introduced during the 2024–2025 legislative session, mandates that school districts condition student enrollment on documentation proving legal status. Children unable to provide such proof would be admitted only if their parents or guardians pay tuition, which must

Congress introduces bill to bar free Medicaid access for undocumented immigrants

Breaking Local News ReportJanuary 27, 20250

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) announced on Monday the introduction of the “No Medicaid for Illegal Immigrants Act,” legislation designed to prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing Medicaid benefits. Kiley argues that the bill would save California taxpayers billions annually while preserving healthcare resources for American citizens and legal residents. In a statement posted to social media, Kiley called the proposal “common sense legislation,” emphasizing fiscal responsibility and fairness in how taxpayer-funded programs are allocated. The bill seeks to address concerns over the use of public funds for non-citizens while highlighting the financial burden such expenditures may place on

Six New Jersey lawmakers vote against bill to deport undocumented immigrants convicted of sex crimes, domestic violence

Breaking Local News ReportJanuary 17, 20250

TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey’s congressional delegation was sharply divided in a recent vote on the “Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act,” a bill that would allow for the deportation of undocumented immigrants convicted of sex offenses and domestic violence. The bill, which seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act, would make individuals convicted of sex crimes, domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, or violations of protection orders both inadmissible to the United States and subject to deportation. The legislation defines deportable offenses to include sex crimes as outlined in the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act

Are New Jersey’s 750,000 Undocumented Immigrants to Blame for Current Affordable Housing Crisis

Breaking Local News ReportJanuary 3, 20250

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey is facing an affordable housing crisis, and the state is now forcing towns to build more high-density apartment units after a heartbreaking court decision by a New Jersey judge. An estimated 8.13% of New Jersey’s population was comprised of undocumented individuals in 2023, according to data derived from U.S. Census Bureau population estimates and immigration statistics. A Mercer County judge has rejected a legal challenge from two dozen New Jersey towns seeking to delay the implementation of the state’s latest affordable housing mandates, paving the way for the law to move forward. The ruling, issued

AOC Warns Undocumented Immigrants to Prepare for Trump’s “Aggressive” Mass Deportation

Breaking Local News ReportNovember 13, 20240

WASHINGTON — As former President Donald Trump appears poised for a possible return to the White House, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is urging undocumented migrant communities to prepare for what she anticipates will be an aggressive deportation campaign. In a recent interview, Ocasio-Cortez discussed potential steps that undocumented immigrants can take to protect themselves and their families, highlighting the possibility of increased enforcement actions under a Trump administration. The congresswoman expressed concern that some in the immigrant community may not fully understand the extent of the policies being proposed by Trump and his advisers. “I think the Trump campaign ran

Report Claims 8% of People Living in New Jersey Are Undocumented

Breaking Local News ReportSeptember 6, 20240

TRENTON, N.J. — A report from Assemblyman Paul Kanitra estimates that illegal immigration costs New Jersey residents at least $7.3 billion annually. Kanitra’s office found that approximately 892,000 undocumented immigrants reside in the state as of April 2024, a figure updated from previous estimates. The report, which follows a two-month investigation by Kanitra’s office, states that the cost amounts to about $1,600 per worker and $2,100 per household in the state. These estimates cover state and local expenditures related to undocumented immigrants, excluding federal costs. Kanitra’s findings suggest that the number of undocumented immigrants in New Jersey has grown by

Advocacy Groups Spring into Action After New Jersey Courts Deny Undocumented Worker’s Wage Claim

Breaking Local News ReportSeptember 5, 20240

ELIZABETH, N.J. – A coalition of immigrant rights, labor, and legal aid organizations filed a friend-of-the-court brief on Tuesday, urging the New Jersey Supreme Court to overturn a recent Appellate Division decision that denied an undocumented worker’s wage claim based on his immigration status. The groups, represented by Make the Road New Jersey, Legal Aid at Work, and the National Employment Law Project (NELP), argue that the ruling misinterprets federal immigration and labor law, and could have far-reaching negative consequences for workers across the state. The Appellate Division’s decision, according to the brief, opens the door to increased exploitation of

New Jersey Immigration Parole Seeks to Legalize the Undocumented in the Garden State

Breaking Local News ReportAugust 19, 20240

NEW JERSEY — Starting Monday, a new program under the Biden administration will offer undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens protection from deportation, work authorization, and potentially a pathway to citizenship. This initiative expands the existing Parole in Place processes, aimed at helping long-term U.S. residents who are undocumented. New Jersey has been a major recipient of undocumented immigrants during the administration of President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Migrants have come to New Jersey both for its status as a sanctuary state and because many illegal migrants have family living in the New York City and New Jersey region.

US Border Patrol, FURA apprehends 34 undocumented migrants on the coast of Isabela, Puerto Rico

Dinesh PatelMay 17, 20240

AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico –US Border Patrol agents and Puerto Rico Police Officers apprehended 34 undocumented migrants who made landfall onboard a vessel Wednesday morning near Los Bravos Beach in Isabela. “Smugglers and bad actors continue to spread falsehoods and show complete disregard for the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable migrants venturing on the Mona Passage,” stated Desi DeLeon, Chief Patrol Agent for Ramey Sector. “We continue to warn migrants on the continuing dangers of such a journey.” On May 15, at approximately 1:25 AM (AST), a Ramey Sector Border Patrol Agent (BPA) detected a vessel traveling without navigation lights approximately

Undocumented Immigrant Indicted in Laken Riley Murder Case Facing New Charges

Local News ReportMay 9, 20240

Athens, GA – A grand jury indicted Jose Antonio Ibarra on multiple charges in connection to the death of student Laken Riley at the University of Georgia. Ibarra faces allegations including murder, attempted rape, kidnapping, and a peeping Tom incident on the same day as Riley’s death. Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, is accused of killing 22-year-old Laken Riley while she was jogging on campus. The suspect, who lived near the site of the homicide, faces charges of malice murder, felony murder, and other offenses. UGA Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark described the crime as a tragedy and emphasized that it

New Jersey Lawmaker Proposes Fining Business Owners Who Hire Undocumented Migrants

Conservative TimesMarch 18, 20240

TRENTON, NJ—A bill submitted for approval in the New Jersey legislature seeks to fine business owners who hire undocumented migrants. Assemblyman Alex Sauickie has been waiting to move the bill in the legislature, and it seeks to penalize local business owners. Business owners who repeatedly violate the law would be subject to losing their New Jersey business license. The bill seeks to force all employers to verify the employment eligibility of prospective employees through the E-Verify program. This electronic verification system, administered by the United States Department of Homeland Security in conjunction with the Social Security Administration, aims to ensure

El Cajon Woman Admits to Coordinating the Transportation of More than 75 Undocumented Immigrants and Collecting $1 Million in Payments

Indira PatelNovember 15, 20230

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 14, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Blanca Estella Gomez of El Cajon pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that she managed and directed drivers who transported undocumented immigrants within the United States. In her plea agreement, Gomez said she coordinated with individuals in Mexico who smuggled immigrants across the border. Gomez directed her drivers to pick up the immigrants in the United States, told the drivers where to take the immigrants, and told them how much money to collect. According to her plea agreement, Gomez admitted that one driver working for her transported more than

Mexican National Charged With Illegally Transporting Undocumented Aliens

Indira PatelNovember 14, 20230

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Olidier Roblero-Perez (34, Mexico) has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with transporting undocumented aliens for the purpose of furthering their illegal presence in the United States. If convicted, Roblero-Perez faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. According to the complaint, deputies from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO) encountered Roblero-Perez at a motel in St. Augustine while investigating an incident in which Virjilio Aguilar-Mendez, an undocumented alien from Guatemala, violently struggled with officers who were attempting to arrest him, and which resulted in

Keeping lights off: Undocumented Afghans go underground in Pakistan

ReutersNovember 10, 20230

By Ariba Shahid and Mohammad Yunus Yawar KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) – After living in Pakistan for years, thousands of Afghans have gone into hiding to escape a government order to expel undocumented foreigners because they fear persecution under a Taliban administration in their homeland, rights activists say. “The gate is locked from the outside… we are locked inside, we can’t come out, we can’t turn on our lights, we can’t even talk loudly,” said a 23-year-old Afghan woman, speaking online from a shelter where she said dozens of others had holed up until earlier this week before moving on to

Undocumented alien and former Marietta teaching assistant have been sentenced to prison for firearms trafficking

Indira PatelOctober 10, 20230

ATLANTA – A previously deported undocumented alien with a violent criminal history, and a former school paraprofessional who fatally abandoned a dog in a hot car while straw purchasing firearms, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in trafficking guns later used in shootings. “Firearms traffickers fuel gun violence in our communities placing citizens at risk of injury and death,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our office is committed to partnering with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to pursue and prosecute criminals whose disregard for life contributes to the illegal flow of guns onto

New Jersey Doctor Loses License Over Exploiting Undocumented Servants

Charlie DwyerSeptember 23, 20230

TRENTON, NJ – The State Board of Medical Examiners announced the temporary suspension of Dr. Harsha Sahni’s medical license for recruiting, concealing, and exploiting two undocumented women from India as household servants. Dr. Sahni, a rheumatology practitioner in Colonia, faces allegations of forcing one woman to work 15-hour days while denying her medical treatment for an aneurysm. Sahni has already pleaded guilty to federal charges of Conspiracy to Conceal and Harbor Aliens and Filing a False Tax Return for her actions spanning from 2013 to 2021. According to a Consent Order filed last week, Sahni consented to the temporary suspension

Border Patrol Apprehends 16 Undocumented Migrants that Landed in a Yola in Northern, Puerto Rico

US Border PatrolAugust 2, 20230

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Ramey Sector Border Patrol Agents apprehended Monday 16 undocumented migrants that disembarked from a makeshift wooden vessel near a shopping mall in Hatillo, Puerto Rico. The Ramey Station received a report of a possible migrant smuggling incident near Plaza del Norte mall in the municipality if Hatillo. Border Patrol agents along with personnel from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Hatillo Municipal Police and Puerto Rico Police Department Officers reached the beach behind the mall area and located an abandoned 30-foot, fiberglass vessel, blue in color with two outboard engines beached on the shore. “Our message for

Tunisia says undocumented migrants in the country received $1 billion this year

ReutersJuly 14, 20230

By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) -Undocumented sub-Saharan African migrants in Tunisia received three billion dinars (about $1 billion) in remittances from their countries during the first half of 2023, an official from the national security council said in a meeting late on Friday. President Kais Saied, who chaired the meeting, said, “This figure is shocking and indicates that Tunisia is being targeted.” Saied denounced this year undocumented sub-Saharan African immigration to his country, saying in comments criticised by rights groups that it was aimed at changing Tunisia’s demographic make-up. The amount of the announced transfers for undocumented migrants is higher

Monmouth County Doctor Admits Harboring Undocumented Workers from India

DOJ PressFebruary 22, 20230

NEWARK, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, doctor pleaded guilty today to harboring two undocumented women from India and failing to pay taxes on their wages, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Harsha Sahni, 66, of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton federal court to an information charging her with one count of conspiracy to conceal and harbor aliens and one count of filing a false tax return. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From 2013 through August 2021, Sahni conspired with others to conceal

Laredo Sector Border Patrol Arrested Several Undocumented Individuals with Fraudulent Documents

US Border PatrolJanuary 26, 20230

LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the I-35 checkpoint arrested several individuals in a commercial bus as they attempted to pass through the checkpoint by using fraudulent identification documents. On Jan. 20, while conducting immigration inspections aboard a commercial passenger bus, Border Patrol agents discovered five individuals who presented fraudulent immigration documents. Record checks showed that all of the subjects were in the country illegally. The fraudulent documents were seized, and the subjects were processed accordingly. Follow Laredo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Carl E. Landrum on Twitter at USBPChiefLRT, on Instagram at USBPChiefLRT and Facebook at US Border Patrol

Undocumented Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Illegal Re-Entry to U.S.

DOJ PressJanuary 11, 20230

BENTON, Ill. – A man originally from Mexico was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison in a U.S. District Court on Wednesday after he admitted to re-entering the U.S. after previously being deported. Jose A. Navarro-Laguna, 41, pled guilty to Illegal Re-Entry after Deportation. According to court documents, Navarro-Laguna was driving a car with a female passenger when the Illinois State Police conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 57 southbound near Mount Vernon, Illinois on Aug. 24, 2022. ISP troopers observed the female passenger did not speak English, and Navarro-Laguna stated he was giving her a ride to Alabama.

Two Mexican Men Found Guilty of Smuggling Undocumented Non-Citizens on Panga Boat that Landed on Santa Barbara County Beach

DOJ PressDecember 21, 20220

LOS ANGELES – A federal jury has found two Mexican men guilty of drug and alien trafficking charges after law enforcement caught them on a panga boat containing 45 pounds of methamphetamine and 11 undocumented non-citizens from Mexico on a Santa Barbara County beach, the Justice Department announced today. Jorge Muñoz-Muñoz, 26, of Ensenada, Mexico, and Roel Aranzubia-Álvarez, 43, of Sinaloa, Mexico, were found guilty on Tuesday afternoon of one count of conspiracy to bring non-citizens into the United States, 11 counts of alien smuggling, 11 counts of alien smuggling for private financial gain, and one count of

Former Border Patrol agent indicted for hiring undocumented individuals as drivers

DOJ PressNovember 17, 20220

LAREDO, Texas – A former Border Patrol (BP) agent, his wife and a Laredo man have been charged for their roles in a conspiracy to hire illegal aliens by fraudulently obtaining immigration permits, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. Authorities arrested Ricardo Gonzalez, 39, his wife, Natalia Gonzalez, 35, and Alex Lopez, 33, today. They are expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga at 10 a.m. tomorrow. A federal grand jury returned the three-count indictment Nov.15. According to the charges, the three conspirators were responsible for the day-to-day operations of Gonmor Inc., a commercial trucking company located