How Will New Jersey’s Next Governor Protect Immigrants?
New Jersey has one of the largest immigrant populations in the country. We asked candidates in the Democratic primary what they’ll do to keep immigrants safe.
Earlier this month, federal immigration agents arrested gubernatorial candidate Newark City Mayor Ras Baraka outside an immigration detention facility, sparking national headlines and widespread outrage.
But even before Baraka’s arrest, immigration was playing a significant role in the state’s gubernatorial primary. Approximately 2.2 million immigrants and refugees live in New Jersey, representing about a quarter of the state’s population. More than 40 percent of New Jersey children have at least one immigrant parent. As Trump continues to terrorize immigrant communities, governors are in a uniquely powerful position to protect their constituents.
“Candidates have a clear choice: stand with immigrants now, a population that that makes up a quarter of the state, or forever spend their first term on the back foot attempting to fight this lawless, vengeful federal administration on their own,” Amy Torres, the Executive Director for the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, wrote in a statement to The Appeal.
Earlier this year, President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law. Gubernatorial candidate Josh Gottheimer was the only Democratic member of New Jersey’s congressional caucus to vote for it. The legislation requires mandatory detention of undocumented immigrants who are charged with low-level offenses, including shoplifting, as well as more serious crimes.
In New Jersey, the next governor can advocate for and sign currently stalled legislation that will codify protections for the state’s immigrant communities. The Immigrant Trust Act, if passed and signed into law, will limit which public agencies can collect information related to immigration status and require “sensitive locations,” including public schools, health care facilities, libraries and shelters, to adopt model policies developed by the state Attorney General to protect those seeking their services.
The model policies would, among other things, prohibit state and local agencies from requesting or collecting information related to immigration status except when required to determine eligibility for services; prohibit immigration officers on the premises of sensitive locations like schools or hospitals in areas not open to the public; and prohibit these institutions from assisting immigration officers. The legislation would also bar state and local law enforcement agencies from voluntarily cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
The legislation has widespread support from civil rights groups, like the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, the Council on American-Islamic Relations of New Jersey, and labor unions. Several local governments have also passed resolutions in favor of the legislation.
“The Trump administration has made it clear it intends to target immigrant communities in New Jersey, as well as any statutes that protect their rights,” ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha said in a statement to The Appeal. “Some leaders seem to believe that these federal threats must deter them from acting in the best interest of immigrant communities, when in fact the real danger of the federal government tearing New Jersey families apart is even more reason to act. That includes passing the Immigrant Trust Act.”
The next governor will also nominate the state’s attorney general, who will be tasked with defending (or not) AB5207, New Jersey’s ban on privately run immigration jails; the law is currently being challenged in court.
The Appeal surveyed the leading Democratic primary candidates—Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Representative Josh Gottheimer, Representative Mikie Sherrill, former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, and former State Senator Steve Sweeney—on several immigration issues.
Baraka, Fulop, and Spiller provided responses to The Appeal’s survey before Baraka’s arrest. Gottheimer, Sherrill, and Sweeney did not respond to The Appeal’s survey. Their public statements on relevant issues appear below.
Ras Baraka, Newark Mayor
Do you support the Immigrant Trust Act? Will you sign it if the state legislature passes it?
Yes, absolutely. I have been a vocal supporter of the Immigrant Trust Act and will sign it if passed.
Will your administration sell land to the federal government that can be used by ICE for detention facilities?
No, absolutely not. I stood with community organizers in opposition to Delaney Hall, ICE’s proposed detention facility in Newark, and I will continue to stand against such efforts. [At the time Mayor Baraka provided his answers, the facility had not yet opened, and he had not yet been arrested.]
Will your administration continue to fight to uphold AB5207?
Absolutely.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey oversees the Newark airport, which is used by ICE to deport people. The Governor appoints chairs to the Port Authority board. Will you appoint people to the board who will pledge not to renew ICE’s contract with the Port Authority?
All of my appointments will align with our core democratic values, without question.
How are you going to ensure Rutgers students and academics who criticize Israel, identify as anti-Zionists, and/or participate in pro-Palestine protests are protected from ICE?
I was an activist before I was a politician. I led protests at Howard University and understand how vital free speech is to our democracy. Peaceful protest must always be protected. No student should ever be threatened or harmed on a college campus.
Will you direct your Attorney General to issue a statewide order prohibiting 287(g) agreements, which allow ICE to deputize local law enforcement officers to perform civil immigration duties?
Absolutely. That’s why passing the Immigrant Trust Act is so crucial.
How do you plan to preserve crucial immigrant services programs like Deportation and Detention Defense, legal services for unaccompanied minors, and healthcare under Cover All Kids?
We need to strengthen our own services in New Jersey by ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share and investing in programs that support our most vulnerable communities.
Will you direct your Attorney General to defend birthright citizenship?
Yes. The 14th Amendment is not up for debate.
Now that a larger number of immigrants face the threat of detention due to the Laken Riley Act becoming law, what will you do to ensure due process for immigrant New Jerseyans who are accused but not convicted of shoplifting, theft, and other crimes?
We need a strong firewall between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies. This is precisely why we need the Immigrant Trust Act—not just as a directive from the governor, but as law in New Jersey.
Steve Fulop, Jersey City Mayor
Do you support the Immigrant Trust Act? Will you sign it if the state legislature passes it?
Yes. Immigrant communities should feel safe reporting crimes, seeking help, and engaging with local law enforcement without fear of deportation. I support the passage of the Immigrant Trust Act to establish a clear separation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. If elected, I will work to ensure that all residents, regardless of immigration status, can live without fear and that law enforcement can focus on protecting communities rather than acting as an extension of federal immigration authorities.
Will your administration sell land to the federal government that can be used by ICE for detention facilities?
No, my administration will not sell or transfer any land to the federal government for the purpose of constructing or expanding ICE detention facilities. New Jersey must not be complicit in a system that disproportionately detains immigrants and separates families. We need to focus on policies that support immigrant communities rather than fueling a system that criminalizes people simply for seeking a better life.
Will your administration continue to fight to uphold AB5207?
Absolutely. I will ensure that New Jersey upholds AB5207, which bans the operation of private detention centers for immigrant detainees. Private prisons profit from human suffering, and they have no place in our state. Facilities that detain immigrants for profit lack proper oversight and accountability, leading to inhumane conditions and abuse.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey oversees the Newark airport, which is used by ICE to deport people. The Governor appoints chairs to the Port Authority board. Will you appoint people to the board who will pledge not to renew ICE’s contract with the Port Authority?
Yes. The governor’s appointments to the Port Authority board have a significant impact, and I will only appoint individuals who are committed to standing up for immigrant rights. I believe that New Jersey should not be facilitating deportations through our public infrastructure. If ICE is using Newark Airport to forcibly remove people from their families and communities, then we must examine that relationship and take action to ensure that our state does not contribute to unjust immigration policies.
How are you going to ensure Rutgers students and academics who criticize Israel, identify as anti-Zionists, and/or participate in pro-Palestine protests are protected from ICE?
I firmly believe that all students and faculty, regardless of their political beliefs, must be protected from retaliation, surveillance, or any form of intimidation. Freedom of speech is a fundamental right, and no one should be targeted for expressing their views. My administration will work closely with colleges and universities across the state to ensure that students and faculty feel safe from any form of harassment, including from federal immigration authorities. If ICE is found to be targeting students based on their political views, my administration will take immediate legal action to defend their rights.
Will you direct your Attorney General to issue a statewide order prohibiting 287(g) agreements, which allow ICE to deputize local law enforcement officers to perform civil immigration duties?
Yes, I will direct my Attorney General to prohibit 287(g) agreements statewide. Local law enforcement should not be used to enforce federal immigration policies. These agreements create a climate of fear in immigrant communities and undermine public safety by discouraging people from reporting crimes or cooperating with the police. My administration will ensure that local law enforcement agencies focus on protecting and serving their communities, not acting as an extension of ICE.
How do you plan to preserve crucial immigrant services programs like Deportation and Detention Defense, legal services for unaccompanied minors, and healthcare under Cover All Kids?
Deportation and Detention Defense ensures that immigrants facing removal proceedings have legal representation, which is critical for ensuring due process. Legal services for unaccompanied minors are vital for protecting children who have fled dangerous situations, and Cover All Kids ensures that every child, regardless of immigration status, has access to healthcare. I will work to expand state funding for these programs and resist any efforts to cut or eliminate them.
Will you direct your Attorney General to defend birthright citizenship?
Yes. Birthright citizenship is a fundamental right enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment, and my administration will aggressively defend it against any legal challenges. Any attempt to strip individuals of their citizenship based on their parents’ immigration status is unconstitutional and morally wrong.
Now that a larger number of immigrants face the threat of detention due to the Laken Riley Act becoming law, what will you do to ensure due process for immigrant New Jerseyans who are accused but not convicted of shoplifting, theft, and other crimes?
The Laken Riley Act is an unjust piece of legislation that unfairly targets immigrants, making them more vulnerable to detention even if they have not been convicted of any crime. In my administration, I will work to strengthen legal protections for all immigrants in New Jersey. We will expand access to public defenders and legal aid services to ensure that everyone, regardless of their immigration status, has the right to due process. Additionally, I will work with local governments to ensure that our state policies do not cooperate with federal overreach that criminalizes immigrants without just cause.
Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Representative
Gottheimer did not respond to The Appeal’s survey.
An analysis of Gottheimer’s congressional voting record conducted by NJ Spotlight shows that Gottheimer has voted in favor of several Republican-backed immigration bills, including an amendment to build a wall between Mexico and the United States. Earlier this year, he was the only Democratic legislator from New Jersey to vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act.
Last year, Gottheimer, along with seven other members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, sent a letter to President Biden’s Department of Justice expressing their opposition to the use of Delaney Hall as a private immigration jail. However, he did not cosponsor fellow New Jersey Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman’s bill to phase out existing Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and U.S. Marshals Service contracts with private prison companies.
In his policy plan, he states that he supports the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Directive. The New Jersey Attorney General’s directive forbids, with few exceptions, state, county, and local law enforcement officers from assisting federal immigration officers.
Insider NJ reported that he believes the Immigrant Trust Act, which, if signed into law, would provide more protections than the directive, should be amended to allow state law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration officials to deport “violent criminals.”
An outspoken supporter of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, Gottheimer has not made public statements about Trump targeting foreign-born student activists, but he has conflated criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Last year, he and fellow New Jersey Congressmember Donald Norcross sent a letter to the Rutgers University president calling pro-Palestine campus protesters “violent and hateful agitators.”
In March, the former head of Betar U.S. posted on X a photo of himself in front of Gottheimer’s Washington, D.C. office, thanking the congressman for “standing with Israel.” The group advocates for pro-Palestine student activists to be deported and says it has provided names of activists, including Mahmoud Khalil, to the Trump administration. The Guardian reported that Glick was the executive director of Betar U.S. until February. The Trump administration is trying to deport Khalil, who is a lawful permanent U.S. resident, because of his activism.
Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Representative
Sherrill, a former federal prosecutor, did not respond to The Appeal’s survey.
In a roundtable last month, Sherrill said she had “deep concerns” about the Immigrant Trust Act, saying she feared the legislation could face legal challenges.
An analysis conducted by NJ Spotlight shows that throughout her tenure in Congress, she has voted in favor of several Republican-sponsored immigration legislation, including an amendment to build a wall between Mexico and the United States. She and Gottheimer were the only Democratic members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation to vote in favor of the amendment.
Last year, she voted against the Laken Riley Act. This year, the bill came before the U.S. House of Representatives twice. The first time, she did not vote, and the second time, she voted against it.
Sherrill did not cosponsor fellow New Jersey Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman’s bill to phase out existing Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and U.S. Marshals Service contracts with private prison companies.
Sean Spiller, Former Montclair Mayor
Do you support the Immigrant Trust Act? Will you sign it if the state legislature passes it?
Yes
Will your administration sell land to the federal government that can be used by ICE for detention facilities?
No
Will your administration continue to fight to uphold AB5207?
Yes
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey oversees the Newark airport, which is used by ICE to deport people. The Governor appoints chairs to the Port Authority board. Will you appoint people to the board who will pledge not to renew ICE’s contract with the Port Authority?
Yes
How are you going to ensure Rutgers students and academics who criticize Israel, identify as anti-Zionists, and/or participate in pro-Palestine protests are protected from ICE?
As Governor, I will always protect the rights of students to engage in protest actions without fear of reprisals from ICE or other law enforcement agencies. I will ensure that ICE follows all laws, regulations, and constitutional requirements, and will ensure they receive no support from the state for any actions that violate the civil rights and liberties of New Jerseyans. As an immigrant, I am appalled by the actions of ICE to target New Jersey students and families, and will stand up to all efforts by the Trump Administration to sow fear, separate families, and trample on the constitution.
Will you direct your Attorney General to issue a statewide order prohibiting 287(g) agreements, which allow ICE to deputize local law enforcement officers to perform civil immigration duties?
As Governor I will not allow any New Jersey resources being used by the Federal Administration and will utilize every lever available.
How do you plan to preserve crucial immigrant services programs like Deportation and Detention Defense, legal services for unaccompanied minors, and healthcare under Cover All Kids?
Protecting these programs begins with the budget—prioritizing critical services that make our state more affordable and safer for all. I am committed to these programs full funding and utilization.
Will you direct your Attorney General to defend birthright citizenship?
Yes
Now that a larger number of immigrants face the threat of detention due to the Laken Riley Act becoming law, what will you do to ensure due process for immigrant New Jerseyans who are accused but not convicted of shoplifting, theft, and other crimes?
Clear guidance for all law enforcement to keep their actions from ICE, full and proper implementation of the Immigrant Trust Act and clear directives that local law enforcement will not cooperate with ICE.
Steve Sweeney, Former State Senator
Sweeney did not respond to The Appeal’s survey. In public statements, Steve Sweeney has said he opposes the Immigrant Trust Act and the Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive.
On X, he posted that he will “end sanctuary state status for aliens who commit violent crimes in New Jersey” and “provide additional grant funding for our police departments.”