Garden State Times

Senator Carmen Amato, Jr., Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblyman Greg Myhre have introduced legislation to repeal the New Jersey Attorney General Office’s Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-6, which restricts law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

According to the legislators, the directive poses a significant threat to public safety and must be repealed. Senator Amato, Assemblyman Rumpf, and Assemblyman Myhre expressed their concerns regarding the sanctuary state policies in New Jersey and the implications they have on law-abiding citizens and taxpayers.

Senator Amato stated, “The crisis at our southern border is a top concern to thousands of 9th District constituents in addition to millions of Americans from across the country who believe in the rule of law."

Assemblyman Rumpf emphasized, "New Jersey’s sanctuary state policies serve only to exacerbate this crisis by not only offering a safe haven to persons who entered the country illegally but rewarding them with taxpayer-funded benefits."

Echoing these sentiments, Assemblyman Myhre added, “The New Jersey Attorney General’s directive handcuffs law enforcement and, overall, undermines public safety placing citizens at risk by creating a separate class of people who are permitted to flagrantly break the law and undermine US Sovereignty."

The legislators highlighted the disparities created by the sanctuary state policies, questioning the prioritization of benefits for illegal immigrants over citizens in need. They emphasized the need for a serious debate on public safety and the allocation of state tax dollars in relation to immigration policies.

The Attorney General’s directive imposes restrictions on law enforcement's interaction with federal immigration authorities, including limitations on providing assistance and communicating solely for the enforcement of federal civil immigration law. The directive also prohibits certain actions related to detained individuals and civil immigration detainer requests.

Senator Amato, Assemblyman Rumpf, and Assemblyman Myhre acknowledged the challenges ahead in repealing the sanctuary state directive but reiterated their commitment to educating the public and their colleagues on the potential dangers of maintaining such policies.