NJ A179

Bill

NJ A179

Prohibits release of illegal immigrants from correctional facilities.

Introduced
01/13/2026

In Committee
01/13/2026

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill is intended to ensure that persons who are unlawfully present in the United States and have been incarcerated in prisons, jails, youth detention, or other correctional facilities in this State are not released back into the general population upon their release, but rather are remanded solely to the custody of federal immigration officials. The bill requires the administrator, superintendent, warden or other person responsible for the operation of a prison, jail, youth detention or other correctional facility to determine the nationality of every inmate incarcerated in the facility. If an inmate is not a United States citizen, the facility's administrator is required to determine whether the inmate is lawfully present in the United States. When this cannot be determined, the inmate is to be deemed not lawfully present in the United States. The bill prohibits the release of an inmate if the inmate is not a United States citizen or is not lawfully present in the United States except to the custody of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services officials. Administrators, superintendents, wardens or other operators of correctional facilities who violate the bill's provisions are liable to a civil fine as specified by the Commissioner of Corrections.

AI Summary

This bill mandates that correctional facility administrators, wardens, or other responsible parties must verify the nationality of every inmate using official documents. If an inmate is not a U.S. citizen, their lawful presence in the United States must also be determined; if this cannot be confirmed through diligent efforts, the inmate will be considered unlawfully present. The core provision prohibits the release of any inmate who is not a U.S. citizen or is not lawfully present in the U.S., unless they are immediately transferred into the custody of officials from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal agency responsible for managing immigration and naturalization. Violators of these requirements face civil fines determined by the Commissioner of Corrections, and the Commissioner is tasked with creating regulations to implement these changes, including a schedule of penalties. This legislation aims to prevent individuals who are in the country illegally and have been incarcerated from re-entering the general population upon their release from correctional facilities, instead ensuring they are handled by federal immigration authorities.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (5)

Dawn Fantasia (R)*, Michael Inganamort (R)*, Paul Kanitra (R), Greg McGuckin (R), Gregory Myhre (R),

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A179

(3 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A179
BillText	https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A0500/179_I1.HTM

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
A3841	Prohibits release of illegal immigrants from correctional facilities.	Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee	Carry Over
S1326	Prohibits release of illegal immigrants from correctional facilities.	Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee	Carry Over
S851	Prohibits release of illegal immigrants from correctional facilities.	Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee	Same As

Bill > A179

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (5)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary