New Jersey lawmakers push back against ICE with three new bills

🏛️ NJ Democratic lawmakers unveiled three bills targeting ICE operations, private detention centers and agent state employment.

💰 One proposal would impose a 50% tax on private detention facilities and create an “Immigrant Protection Fund.”

⚖️ The measures follow controversy over a proposed ICE detention site in Roxbury and growing debate over immigration enforcement.

TRENTON — With increased reports of masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents showing up in New Jersey communities, Democratic lawmakers have backed a new trio of measures aimed at bolstering state safeguards.

Three bills would tax private detention profiteers, protect law enforcement access to local crime scenes involving ICE, and would disqualify ICE agents from state public employment.

Assemblywoman Katie Brennan, D-Hudson, said one measure would impose a 50% tax on the revenue earned by private detention centers operating under government contracts.

The proposed legislation comes as U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., on Wednesday criticized the federal government's plan to buy a warehouse in western Morris County for a new detention center.

Read More: Bipartisan opposition grows against Roxbury ICE facility

Taxing private detention profiteers

Bill A4300 would create a 50% tax on the gross receipts of private detention facilities operating in New Jersey under contracts with government entities. The legislation would direct proceeds into a new Immigrant Protection Fund dedicated to immigration services for New Jersey residents.

New Jersey recently launched a webpage for people to report on warrantless raids by uploading videos, photos, and detailed reports about encounters with ICE personnel.

“People are terrified,” Brennan said in an interview with New Jersey 101.5.

She said the lack of accountability for current federal immigration agents was driving such fears, as it does not allow for any way to verify such a person’s credentials.

Read More: NJ Launches ICE Reporting Website — What You Need to Know

Protecting Crime Scenes from ICE Interference

Bill A4301 would authorize all state, county, and municipal law enforcement officers to access crime scenes and evidence within their jurisdiction. The measure would make it a criminal offense for any person, including a federal officer, to block that access.

Last week, an Assembly committee advanced legislation to make the controversial Immigrant Trust Directive a state law. It drew sharp debate along partisan lines.

Read More: What The Immigrant Trust Directive Means For Local Communities

Banning ICE Agents from Public Employment

Bill A4302 would disqualify ICE agents and officers who serve from Sept. 1, 2025, to Jan. 20, 2029, from holding future employment as state or local government employees, law enforcement officers, or teachers in New Jersey.

Brennan said lawlessness on behalf of current ICE agents should eliminate them from serving in other public roles around the state.

Brennan and fellow Hudson County Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla joined Assemblywomen Annette Quijano and Alixon Collazos-Gill as prime sponsors of these bills. State Sen. Raj Mukherji, D-Hudson, will introduce the same measures in the state Senate.

The set of measures was also aimed at bolstering pending legislation introduced by Quijano, D-Union. Bill A4078 would ban ICE from using state-owned property as staging areas for enforcement operations.

NJ Congressional delegation slams possible new ICE detention site

On Wednesday, U.S. Rob Menendez, D-N.J. 8th District, launched a statewide initiative to oppose the proposed ICE warehouse facility in Roxbury.

He was joined by fellow Democrats: U.S. Sen. Andy Kim and U.S. Reps. Herb Conaway Jr., D-N.J. 3rd District, Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J. 5th District, LaMonica McIver, D-N.J. 10th District, Donald Norcross, D-N.J. 1st District, Frank Pallone, D-N.J. 6th District, Nellie Pou, D-N.J. 9th District, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J. 12th District.

“From Roxbury to Newark, Private Detention Centers have no place in New Jersey,” Kim said in a written statement. “These companies have shown they'd rather put their own profits over the care they're supposed to provide. We can’t risk more injuries, accidents, and chaos that puts our communities at risk."

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