Bill > A181

This bill directs the New Jersey Attorney General to enter into an agreement, known as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with the U.S. Attorney General under Section 287(g) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act. This agreement will empower specific, trained State and county corrections officers to investigate the immigration status of inmates at the time of their incarceration. If an inmate's presence in the U.S. is found to be unauthorized under federal law, these officers will report this information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The MOU will detail the officers' duties, required training, cooperation protocols between state and federal agencies, any federal funding to New Jersey for these enforcement costs, and confirm that these officers are acting under federal authority, which affects their liability and immunity from lawsuits. The Commissioner of Corrections and county correctional facility administrators will identify volunteer officers for this designation, and the New Jersey Attorney General will select from this list, aiming to include officers from each county. The duties performed by these designated officers will be considered within the scope of their authorized roles as corrections and parole officers under New Jersey law.