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 establishes an immigration unit within the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) in order to provide legal representation and assistance to indigent noncitizens on immigration-related matters. The immigration unit would assist criminal justice-involved noncitizens, including noncitizen youth, in navigating immigration issues during and resulting from the court proceedings. Pursuant to Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S.356 (2010), defense attorneys are required to advise their clients of the immigration consequences of any criminal conviction. Public defender agencies across the country employ specialized immigration lawyers to collaborate with attorneys in other areas of law to provide such guidance. According to the OPD, the New Jersey OPD currently employs only two such attorneys to advise on immigration-related matters, with one immigration attorney for every 600 noncitizen criminal defendants. Further, an immigration unit dedicated to immigration related counsel would also focus on the noncitizen juvenile population. According to the OPD, noncitizen youth involved in the delinquency and the child welfare systems face a particular set of challenges and can benefit from the immigration unit's holistic approach where immigration outcomes go hand-in-hand with the court proceedings.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a dedicated immigration unit within the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) to provide legal representation and assistance to noncitizens, meaning individuals who are not U.S. citizens, facing immigration-related issues, particularly those involved in the criminal justice system, psychiatric institutions, or the juvenile delinquency system. This unit will help these individuals navigate complex immigration laws and consequences that may arise from their legal proceedings, building on the existing legal requirement, established in the Supreme Court case *Padilla v. Kentucky*, for defense attorneys to inform their clients about the immigration implications of criminal convictions. The bill aims to address a current shortage of immigration attorneys within the OPD, ensuring that noncitizen youth, who face unique challenges, receive comprehensive support that considers both their legal cases and their immigration outcomes.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations 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/A1994 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A2000/1994_I1.HTM |
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