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NJ S902
NJ S902Directs AG to enter into agreement with U.S. Attorney General to empower certain corrections officers to investigate immigration status of inmates.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill authorizes the Attorney General to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Attorney General, as provided under section 287(g) of the federal Immigration and Naturalization Act (8 U.S.C. s.1357(g)) to train and empower certain designated State and county corrections officers to perform limited enforcement functions and activities. Under the provisions of the bill, the designated officers would be trained and empowered to investigate, at the time of their incarceration, whether inmates are lawful residents and, in those cases where that investigation reveals that the inmate's presence in the United States is not authorized under federal law, to so notify United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the federal Department of Homeland Security. The terms of the memorandum are to set forth the training curriculum, protocols for the working relationship between the affected State, county and federal officers, offices and agencies; the amounts of federal assistance the State is to receive under the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for participating in the ICE 287(g) program and a certification that the participating corrections officers and parole officers are acting under color of federal authority for the purposes of determining the liability, and immunity from suit, for any civil action brought under federal or State law.
AI Summary
This bill directs the New Jersey Attorney General to establish an agreement, known as a Memorandum of Understanding, with the U.S. Attorney General under a specific federal law (Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act) that allows federal authorities to deputize state and local law enforcement. This agreement will train and authorize certain state and county corrections officers to investigate the immigration status of inmates when they are first incarcerated. If these officers discover an inmate is not legally in the United States, they will report this information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a part of the federal Department of Homeland Security. The agreement will detail the training provided, how state, county, and federal officers will work together, any federal funding New Jersey will receive for participating in this program, and confirm that these designated officers are acting under federal authority, which affects their legal liability and immunity from lawsuits. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Corrections and county correctional facility administrators to identify volunteer officers for this role, with the New Jersey Attorney General making the final selections, aiming to include officers from each county.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S902 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S1000/902_I1.HTM |
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