Trumps New Top Cop in NJ Criticizes Governor Murphy’s Directive Limiting State Police Cooperation with ICE

In response to Governor Phil Murphy’s directive instructing New Jersey state police to limit cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Alina Hanna, a prominent advocate for stricter immigration enforcement, has voiced strong opposition. Hanna contends that this policy compromises public safety and undermines the authority of federal immigration laws.

Governor Murphy’s directive, formalized through the “Immigrant Trust Directive” issued by Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal in November 2018, restricts state and local law enforcement agencies from assisting federal immigration authorities in civil immigration enforcement operations. The directive aims to build trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities by ensuring that individuals can report crimes without fear of deportation. It prohibits officers from stopping, questioning, arresting, or detaining individuals based solely on their immigration status and limits inquiries about immigration status unless pertinent to serious criminal investigations. 

Hanna argues that such policies hinder law enforcement’s ability to effectively protect communities. She asserts that limiting cooperation with ICE allows individuals who may pose threats to public safety to remain in communities, potentially leading to increased crime rates. Hanna emphasizes that federal immigration laws exist to maintain national security and public order, and state policies should not obstruct their enforcement.

Supporters of the directive, however, maintain that it enhances public safety by fostering trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, encouraging cooperation in reporting crimes without fear of immigration consequences. They argue that local law enforcement resources should focus on addressing state and local crimes rather than enforcing federal immigration laws. 

The debate over this directive reflects broader national discussions on the role of state and local authorities in federal immigration enforcement. While the directive remains in effect, it continues to elicit diverse opinions from policymakers, law enforcement officials, and community advocates.