Story perspectives

New Jersey Advances Bills Limiting Immigration Enforcement Cooperation

1/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

New Jersey lawmakers advanced bills to limit cooperation with immigration enforcement after a shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-N.J.) expressed concerns about federal backlash and opposition from Republican legislators.
The bills would prohibit racially influenced policing, establish sensitive locations where federal enforcement is banned, and restrict inquiries about immigration status.
Governor Phil Murphy has not indicated whether he will sign the bills before leaving office on January 20.

History

Historical Context

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 3, abolished national origin quotas that had favored Northern and Western Europeans since the 1920s. This landmark legislation significantly increased immigration from Asia and Latin America, with over 300,000 immigrants arriving annually by the 1970s, reshaping the U.S. demographic landscape and influencing ongoing debates about immigration policy and civil rights.

1 of 2

Story summary

New Jersey lawmakers advanced bills to limit cooperation with immigration enforcement after a shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-N.J.) expressed concerns about federal backlash and opposition from Republican legislators.
The bills would prohibit racially influenced policing, establish sensitive locations where federal enforcement is banned, and restrict inquiries about immigration status.
Governor Phil Murphy has not indicated whether he will sign the bills before leaving office on January 20.

1 / 2