TRENTON, NJ [1/20/2026] - Today, two landmark immigrant protection bills died on Governor Phil Murphy’s desk. There was no resounding announcement, just a decision not to act, and with it, the collapse of what would have been New Jersey’s most comprehensive immigrant protections to date.

The three critical protections included the Safe Communities Act (S5036/A6308), the Privacy Protection Act (S5037/A6309), and the Strengthening the Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities Act (S5038/A6310). Together, these bills formed one of the most comprehensive state-level frameworks for immigrant protection in the nation.  

Today, Murphy signed the Safe Communities Act into law, but abandoned the other two bills. By refusing to sign the Privacy Protection Act and the Strengthening Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities Act at a moment of escalating federal overreach, lawlessness, and deadly violence, Murphy has walked away from his promise to protect immigrant families across the state. He does so amid an intensification of immigration enforcement and detention in New Jersey.

“At a moment that demanded courage, Governor Murphy chose caution,” said Viri Martinez, Deputy Director of Strategy at the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. “This decision reflects how Trump’s authoritarian playbook has seeped into our state, paralyzing decisive leadership and allowing fear, rather than values, to dictate who is protected and who is left behind. There is no other way to describe Governor Murphy’s refusal to sign all three immigrant protection bills but fear of the Trump administration, elevated above the will of the people.”

“In recent years, New Jersey has taken important strides in expanding and protecting immigrants’ rights, even in the face of escalating attacks by the federal government. The Safe Communities Act signed by Gov. Murphy today will continue that mission,” said Amol Sinha, Executive Director of ACLU-NJ. “However, we are deeply disappointed that Governor Murphy pocket vetoed the two more meaningful bills within the immigrant protection package, A6309 and A6310, which would have created much-needed protections for the 9.5 million New Jerseyans who call this state home. In failing to sign these bills, Governor Murphy has left New Jersey without critical protections at a moment when ICE is brutalizing our communities. These bills were legally sound, politically viable, and commonsense policy. We call on Governor-elect Sherrill, her administration, and the Legislature to establish data privacy protections and ensure state and local resources are not commandeered for federal immigration enforcement.”

In his final days in office, Murphy suggested that signing the bills might provoke the Trump administration. Yet, immigrant communities are not asking for political caution. They are demanding protection and clear, enforceable legal safeguards from leaders willing to govern with courage, not fear. Allowing these bills to die was not prudent restraint. It was a surrender to the politics of fear.

In the past year, New Jersey has been marked by ceaseless strikes from the Trump administration in accordance with its mass deportation agenda. New Jersey was one of the first states to experience a mass workplace raid within days of the president’s inauguration, and experienced the hurried opening of Delaney Hall as an ICE jail. New Jerseyans watched in horror as federal agents arrested Mayor Ras Baraka and violently mobbed Congressional members Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver, and Robert Menendez for trying to perform basic oversight. The Department of Justice later pursued charges against Congresswoman McIver and filed suit against Newark, Paterson, Jersey City, and Hoboken for their “sanctuary” policies. Immigrant detention centers in New Jersey have been riddled with abuse, leading to the death of Jean Wilson Brutus, who was in ICE’s custody for less than 24 hours. The Trump administration now eyes Roxbury Township and Fort Dix military base as potential detention sites, which could soon exacerbate detention in a state already consumed by it. Against this backdrop, Murphy wavered by failing to sign legal protections that could safeguard immigrant communities from ICE.

The protections package was a result of a multi-year fight led by directly impacted immigrants, community organizations, faith leaders, labor unions, healthcare workers, educators, and legal experts across the state. Our coalition, along with the general public, made its demands clear: the state of New Jersey had to deliver immigrant protections now. 

“Today should have marked a turning point for immigrant families across New Jersey,” said Nedia Morsy, Executive Director of Make the Road New Jersey. “Instead, two landmark protections were allowed to die without explanation or accountability. While the Safe Communities Act is a meaningful and necessary step that will bring real relief to families who are afraid to enter schools, hospitals, or places of worship, it was never intended to stand alone. The three immigrant protection bills were designed to work together—to protect families not only in public spaces, but also from surveillance, data sharing, and coercive entanglement with federal immigration enforcement. Our communities asked for protection, and today, they were denied.”

“Signing only some of these bills is a calculated move that leaves tens of thousands of people vulnerable to the same pipeline into ICE,” said Katy Sastre, Executive Director of First Friends of New Jersey and New York. “Partial protection means more families separated, more people losing everything overnight, and more permanent trauma carried by children and loved ones—while the state shrugs and calls it a compromise. Governor Murphy doesn’t get to decide that some harm is acceptable, or that he knows better than the communities who have been fighting to survive this system. Anything short of signing all three is a betrayal of the communities he claims to serve.”

“While we welcome the signing of the Safe Communities Act, as representatives of communities who have time and again been stripped of equal protection under the law by racist administrations — as when our government incarcerated Japanese Americans during World War II — we are shocked and alarmed by the Governor’s rejection of the complete immigrant protections package,” said Amber Reed, Co-Executive Director of AAPI New Jersey. “Recent events unmistakably demonstrate there is no safety to be found in appeasing this federal administration, and questions as important as whether our law enforcement agencies should be complicit in handing New Jerseyans over to ICE without due process should not live or die with a given Attorney General, but be decided by the people of New Jersey through their legislators.”

“This is barely worth celebrating. We have spent a long time helping policymakers understand the real threats facing our communities. While safe spaces matter, they are not the only protections our communities need," said Ana Paola Pazmiño, Executive Director of Resistencia en Acción. "The governor’s failure to sign bills addressing data sharing and police community accountability, is profoundly disappointing. At a moment when our most vulnerable communities needed decisive action, he chose inaction. That choice will define his legacy and cast a lasting shadow over his time in office. We will continue organizing regardless. When government fails us, community must and will step in.”

"Today marks a pivotal moment for New Jersey, as we embrace our shared values of compassion and community, while wrestling with increasing threats from the federal administration. Governor Murphy signing the Safe Communities Act reflects our state’s commitment to inclusivity, yet there is deep disappointment as New Jersey turns its back on countless families seeking safety and belonging,” said Dolly Hernandez, Executive Director of Casa Freehold. “Governor Murphy’s refusal to sign the full immigrant protections package leaves us feeling unheard and vulnerable, reminding us that the path to true compassion remains a challenging journey.”

“We are grateful that, in the final stretch of Governor Murphy’s last term, progress was made with the signing of the Safe Communities Act. These protections matter as we continue to see the urgent need to defend our communities from the destructive actions carried out by ICE agents. At the same time, we are deeply saddened that the full protections package was not signed into law,” said Haliema Twam, Civic Engagement & Advocacy Manager with the Palestinian-American Community Center. “This leaves the door open for the federal administration, and potentially future administrations, to dismantle years of hard, relentless work. We remain hopeful that the New Jersey Legislature and Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill will work together to secure protections once and for all.”

“A6309 and A6310 are essential, and without them, the protections our communities fought for remain incomplete and fragile. Delay or partial action leaves families exposed and undermines the trust and safety these bills are meant to guarantee. Our community can’t afford more delays,” said Seongwon Kim, Program Manager with the Minkwon Center. “We urge Governor Sherrill to commit to upholding the Directive and ensuring every New Jerseyan is afforded full due process.”

“Signing the Safe Communities Act alone is simply not enough. Governor Murphy has created a false sense of security instead of providing permanent solutions. This decision has ignored the essential needs of our community and left our neighbors unprotected the moment they step outside those ‘safe’ doors,” said Adam McGovern, Legislative Strategist with Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center. “A half-measure is not a sanctuary. We cannot celebrate partial safety while ICE continues to terrorize our families. We now call on our Governor-elect to honor the values of our state, represent our communities, and prioritize the safety that we have been denied for too long.”

“We commend the advocates, organizations, allies, and immigrant leaders who worked tirelessly to advance the immigrant protection bills aimed at providing meaningful defense for our communities. At the same time, we are deeply disappointed that Governor Murphy, in his final moments in office, chose to selectively protect immigrants, leaving entire communities vulnerable,” said Shaira Cruz, Community Organizer with Migrante New Jersey. “We grieve for those who are excluded from these critical protections. While this outcome falls short of what our communities deserve, we are dismayed but not defeated. The struggle for full and inclusive protections will continue.”

"CATA - The Farmworker Support Committee strongly condemns Governor Murphy’s decision to withhold his signature from all three bills that would have provided essential and critical protections to immigrant communities," said Megan Hurley, Policy & Advocacy Organizer with CATA. "At a time when ICE is already operating with impunity in New Jersey, choosing partial action is a shameful abdication of leadership. The governor cannot credibly claim to stand with immigrants while knowingly leaving our communities vulnerable to the federal government’s racist and oppressive enforcement machine."

“We celebrate the win of the passage of the safe communities protections in New Jersey. This win was made possible by the hard work of immigrant community members. However, Governor Murphy‘s failure to pass the entire package, which was supported by our communities and the New Jersey State Senate and Assembly, demonstrates his administration's lack of solidarity with the immigrant community. This is a political system's failure,” said Amanda Dominguez, Community Organizer with New Labor. “We expect Governor Sherill to stand with immigrant communities as we continue the fight for stronger protections from ICE for all New Jerseyans. We celebrate our win, y la lucha sigue!”

“This package of bills represents an important step toward ensuring that all New Jerseyans, regardless of immigration status, can live with dignity and safety. We appreciate Governor Murphy for signing a portion of this legislative package into law. At the same time, we are disappointed that the full set of bills was not signed,” said Maheen Mumtaz, Government Affairs Associate with Council on American Islamic Relations — New Jersey. “We urge continued action to fully deliver on the promise of meaningful and comprehensive protections for immigrants across New Jersey.”

"The Safe Communities Act is a common-sense law that protects all New Jerseyans in their daily lives," said Johan Mora-Valverde, Youth Coordinator at SPAN Parent Action Network. "Learning that the Privacy Protections and ITD Codification bills were vetoed at the last hour is disappointing for communities who rely on the state to stand up for those most at risk - especially people anxious about their data and whether local authorities can be trusted. We look forward to Governor Sherrill's leadership in correcting this and working with the New Jersey Legislature to enact these common-sense protections."

“While we appreciate Governor Murphy for enacting the Safe Communities Act, his action leaves out protections for our privacy and protections from federal immigration agents violating our Constitutional rights,” said Sungkwan Jang of One Boat Coalition. “We call on Governor Sherrill to join us in the fight for justice and liberty for all and build on the success of the Murphy administration. As she said, we in New Jersey are the first ones to see the sun rise over the Statue of Liberty. Together, let us put that to action.”

“Today’s signing of the Safe Communities Act is meaningful progress for everyone residing in New Jersey. These measures strengthen trust and safety in our communities; they reflect the will of a state that values compassion and justice. However, critical protections failed to be secured by Governor Murphy,” said Julie Moreno of American Families United Action. “We call on Governor Sherrill to publicly commit to developing policy to ensure that not a single resident is turned over to ICE without full due process.”

Introduced in September 2024, the protections advanced through the state Legislature only in the final weeks of the session. When the bills were finally posted, hundreds filled the Statehouse, committee hearings, and the Assembly and Senate chambers, culminating in the passage of the full protections package. After the bills passed the legislature, and following Murphy’s public hesitancy on a radio program, New Jerseyans flooded his call and text hotlines, national organizations sent urgent letters, and elected officials at every level of government pressed him to sign the measures into law. Yet, Murphy ignored them all. 

“Today, I’m holding praise and pain. After six years, Governor Murphy signed an immigrant protection into law—and we’re grateful for what we won. Truth: they watered it down, and we didn’t get everything our people deserve. The most impacted have been clear from the beginning—safety isn’t negotiable,” said Charlene D. Walker, Executive Director of Faith in New Jersey. “My faith says nobody is disposable, and our safety is interconnected. Now we turn our hope—and our pressure—toward Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill to deliver the remaining protections New Jerseyans deserve.” 

“Governor Murphy’s decision to sign only one of the three immigrant protection bills is deeply disappointing, particularly at such a critical moment. As Governor Murphy leaves office, he leaves New Jersey’s immigrant communities exposed to unchecked ICE enforcement and harm," said Erik Cruz Morales, Director of Democracy at the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. "While the Safe Communities Act is good policy, it was only a fraction of a broader immigration package that included essential privacy protections and the codification of the Immigrant Trust Directive. By failing to sign the full package, Governor Murphy missed an opportunity to demonstrate true leadership and fully stand with immigrant communities. New Jersey will remember this moment as one where political caution was chosen over the courage necessary to protect the needs and safety of our residents. We now call on Governor Sherrill to demonstrate this courage and fight against the ICE tactics that are tearing our country apart by championing this legislation.”

“Signing the Safe Communities Act is a step toward protecting immigrants in New Jersey, but our communities still need protections for data and codification of the Immigrant Trust Directive,” said Antoinette Miles, Executive Director of Working Families Party. “New Jersey Working Families Alliance will continue to work with our allies to pass the full set of protections and policies to make our communities safe."

”While we acknowledge the partial protections that come from the Governor’s actions, there is no meaningful justice without the full protections of all three bills,” said Rev. Charles Loflin, Executive Director of UU Faith Action New Jersey. “Our focus turns now to the incoming governor who must implement the strongest possible policies ensuring due process rights for EVERY New Jerseyan.”

“Thank you to Governor Murphy for signing the Safe Communities Act into law. Enacting this common-sense legislation, which passed the General Assembly with bipartisan support, is a step in the right direction. At the same time, we are deeply disappointed that Governor Murphy did not sign the Privacy Protection Act and the Immigrant Trust Directive codification bills into law,” said Sarah Blaine, Lead Organizer with New Jersey Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-NJ). “Indeed, the Privacy Protection Act would have limited access to automatic license plate reader data, which would have protected not only New Jersey’s immigrants, but would also have protected those entering New Jersey seeking reproductive or gender-affirming care. Given Governor Murphy’s unfortunate decision to leave these bills – unsigned – on his desk, we urge Governor Sherrill to take immediate steps to ensure that New Jerseyans’ data is protected and that no New Jerseyans are turned over to ICE without first being afforded their full due process rights.”

As Murphy concludes his governorship, advocates look ahead to incoming Governor Mikie Sherill, who must lead a state where one in four New Jerseyans is an immigrant. As the federal administration continues its terror campaign against immigrant communities and constitutional rights, it is critical that Sherill commit to upholding the Immigrant Trust Directive and pass policies that will protect the due process of immigrant communities.

“Indivisible Cranbury and our over 400 members are pleased that Governor Phil Murphy has signed one out of three bills into law, which make up the Immigrant Protections Package. We are concerned that not all of the bills were signed into law, which would have benefited and brought us closer to securing the Privacy, Safety, and Trust in all communities, but especially immigrant communities,” said Jenny Psaki, Chair of the Preserving our Immigrant Communities Taskforce of Indivisible Cranbury. “We therefore urge Governor Sherill to immediately adopt the ITD as well as renew her commitment to due process, to renew our trust in our local policies, and so that all New Jerseyans are protected from violent and unlawful detentions brought on by Federal law enforcement.”

“Given ICE’s increasingly violent, illegal, and immoral actions, we regret that Governor Murphy failed to sign all three Immigrant Protection bills,” said Cynthia Galeota and Susan Vercheak, Co-Chairs of the Immigration Committee of SOMA Action. “We will press the new Legislature and Governor Sherrill to enforce the presumption that all New Jerseyans are innocent until proven guilty and no New Jerseyan is turned over to ICE without Due Process.”

"One bill signed is progress, but failing to codify the Immigrant Trust Directive and Privacy Protection Act is a serious missed opportunity that leaves immigrant families exposed. Partial action is not enough, and we will keep organizing,” said Louise Walpin and Rosalie Wong, Co-leads of WADEIn New Jersey. “We urge Governor Sherrill to publicly commit to upholding the ITD, as well as to ensuring no one is turned over to ICE without due process." 

The movement that carried these three bills forward is not retreating. Our coalition and movement remain mobilized. We will work to ensure the next chapter for New Jersey is written with courage, not cowardice, compliance, or capitulation.

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