Bill
Bill > A153
NJ A153
NJ A153Prohibits municipal ordinance to create sanctuary city; establishes State and local employee ethics violation upon noncompliance with federal immigration enforcement request.
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 is intended to make certain that State and local officials in New Jersey cooperate with federal authorities with respect to immigration and customs enforcement requests. The bill prohibits counties and municipalities from establishing formal or informal policies of non-cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Several jurisdictions, such as California, have established a formal prohibition on cooperation with federal authorities on immigration issues. In San Francisco, a young woman named Kate Steinle was brutally murdered by an individual who intentionally committed the crime in San Francisco because it had designated itself a sanctuary city. Other jurisdictions, such as certain municipalities in New Jersey, have an informal practice of not cooperating with requests from the federal government regarding immigration matters. This bill is intended to prevent the State, municipalities, or any subdivision thereof, from establishing a formal or informal "sanctuary city" policy, which has led to recent violent crimes around the country. Under this bill, a State or local official who fails to cooperate with federal authorities with respect to immigration enforcement will be committing an ethics violation. The regular process for the disposition of ethics violations at the State or local level will be applicable to these situations. The bill also creates a civil fine for any member of a municipal or county governing body which votes in favor of a sanctuary city ordinance after the effective date of the bill.
AI Summary
This bill prohibits any municipality or county in New Jersey from adopting ordinances or resolutions that would prevent their officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities, effectively banning "sanctuary city" policies, whether formal or informal. It also establishes that any member of a municipal or county governing body who votes for such a non-cooperation policy after the bill becomes law will face criminal charges, potentially leading to fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of their office. Furthermore, the bill amends existing ethics laws to classify a refusal to cooperate with lawful federal immigration enforcement requests as an ethics violation for both local and state officials, with established procedures for handling such violations. To protect public servants, the state will defend and indemnify municipal employees and officers against civil lawsuits arising from their cooperation with federal immigration authorities, provided their actions were not intentionally or willfully misconducted.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (6)
Dawn Fantasia (R)*,
Michael Inganamort (R)*,
Paul Kanitra (R)*,
Bob Auth (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
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A153 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A0500/153_I1.HTM |
Loading...