52:17B-236.14 Findings, declarations.
1. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. There is a difference between State, county, and municipal law enforcement authorities, who enforce the criminal laws of this State, and federal immigration authorities, who enforce federal civil immigration law. b. The responsibility to investigate violations of civil immigration law belongs to the federal government. c. It is not the role of State, county, or municipal law enforcement to carry out federal civil immigration enforcement. d. The law enforcement officers of New Jersey are sworn to protect the public by investigating offenses in violation of the State’s criminal code, enforcing the State’s criminal laws, and enhancing public safety. e. The expectation that the State’s law enforcement officers and agencies will perform tasks outside their responsibility creates an unfair burden on them and the limited resources of the State. f. If State, county, and municipal law enforcement authorities were to participate in federal civil immigration enforcement, beyond the instances required by law, it would improperly blur the distinction between State and federal actors; perhaps more significantly, it would undermine the public trust that law enforcement in this State have worked to cultivate with the diverse communities they serve. g. Individuals are less likely to report a crime if they are fearful that the responding officer will report them to federal immigration authorities. This fear can impede the ability of law enforcement to solve crimes and apprehend suspects, posing a public safety risk to every resident of the State. h. For these reasons, the Legislature finds it fitting and proper to codify the Attorney General directive, “Strengthening Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities.” i. The Legislature notes that nothing in the directive prohibits holding accountable any violator of New Jersey’s criminal laws. j. This directive reaffirms the long-settled delegation of responsibility between federal and State law enforcement entities and ensures the equitable division of labor between the two. k. It is the intent of the Legislature to further the State’s goals of efficacious and conscientious use of limited law enforcement resources and advancement of trust between New Jersey’s law enforcement and the diverse communities to which they have devoted their livelihoods and lives to protect by codifying the directive. L.2026, c.5, s.1.