New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is facing pressure from over 100 advocacy groups to sign a package of bills aimed at strengthening protections for immigrants before his term ends. The governor's desk has been presented with the three proposed bills, which would restrict government agencies and healthcare facilities from asking individuals about their immigration status.
The Privacy Protection Act would limit when these questions can be asked, while the Safe Communities Act would direct the state attorney general to develop policies ensuring personal freedom in certain locations, including schools and courthouses. The third bill codifies an existing directive that prohibits law enforcement from detaining or questioning people based solely on suspected immigration status.
However, Governor Murphy has already signaled his intention to veto parts of the Privacy Protection Act, stating he would sign it if the language was revised to explicitly grant professional and occupational boards permission to collect information on individuals' immigration status. He also wants the state to assume liability for violating the act instead of individual employees.
The advocacy groups, including local chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union, Council on American-Islamic Relations, and NAACP, have urged Murphy to approve the package in a letter published earlier this week. The letter describes the "terror" faced by immigrant families under the Trump administration's policies and cites statistics showing over 6,000 New Jersey residents were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement between January and October last year.
The groups argue that while Murphy cannot stop ICE enforcement in New Jersey, he can take steps to protect residents from the risks associated with immigration status. With Murphy's term set to end on January 20th, advocates are pushing for swift action before a new governor takes office.
The Privacy Protection Act would limit when these questions can be asked, while the Safe Communities Act would direct the state attorney general to develop policies ensuring personal freedom in certain locations, including schools and courthouses. The third bill codifies an existing directive that prohibits law enforcement from detaining or questioning people based solely on suspected immigration status.
However, Governor Murphy has already signaled his intention to veto parts of the Privacy Protection Act, stating he would sign it if the language was revised to explicitly grant professional and occupational boards permission to collect information on individuals' immigration status. He also wants the state to assume liability for violating the act instead of individual employees.
The advocacy groups, including local chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union, Council on American-Islamic Relations, and NAACP, have urged Murphy to approve the package in a letter published earlier this week. The letter describes the "terror" faced by immigrant families under the Trump administration's policies and cites statistics showing over 6,000 New Jersey residents were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement between January and October last year.
The groups argue that while Murphy cannot stop ICE enforcement in New Jersey, he can take steps to protect residents from the risks associated with immigration status. With Murphy's term set to end on January 20th, advocates are pushing for swift action before a new governor takes office.
... Governor Murphy's trying to do good but he's just gonna find a way to screw it up too. I mean, what's with the veto? He's gonna sign it if they change one tiny thing, that's just gonna set a bad precedent. And now these advocacy groups are all over him like white on rice 
... like he didn't know this was coming down the pipe. 6,000 people detained in NJ last year is just crazy 
... and for what? So we can pretend like it never happened? I'm not buying it. Murphy's just gonna wait till his term is up and then ghost us all 
... that's just how politics works, right?
. I mean, 6,000 people detained by ICE in NJ last year? That's just heartbreaking 
. Governor Murphy needs to step up and sign this package ASAP 
, even if he has to revise some of the language 
. The fact that advocacy groups are willing to speak out against these policies is giving me hope 
. We need more leaders like them who care about protecting people's rights 
. Let's keep the pressure on and make sure our voices are heard loud and clear 
!
I feel like we're still living through the aftermath of those dark Trump policies and now it's like Murphy is kinda backtracking 
. The thing is, I get why he doesn't wanna sign anything without those professional boards getting permission to know people's immigration status 
, but you'd think there's a way to make that happen without leaving so much room for interpretation 
The thought of those families having to live with this uncertainty again is terrifying 
. I mean, we're already seeing so many ppl struggling to make ends meet & now we gotta worry about their safety too? 
Governor Murphy is trying to do the right thing but he's getting all up in arms with these advocacy groups over the language on one of the bills 
also these stats are straight fire 
6k ppl detained in one year is insane 
. Remember how our state was always pushing back against Trump's immigration policies? Now we're backtracking? It feels like progress is being taken two steps forward and one step back 
. And what really gets my goat is that they're talking about "terror" faced by immigrant families... meanwhile, how about the terror of living in a state where you can be detained at any moment? It's time to take control and make some real changes 
.
. Fingers crossed 
!
lets just hope whoever takes over after him knows whats goin on 
!! Governor Murphy is gettin' pressured by all these advocacy groups to sign these bills that would literally protect immigrant families from being harassed about their immigration status! it's about time someone took action 
. the fact that 6k+ people were detained in nj last year is crazy and i'm glad murphy wants to take a stand against that terror 
.
. but overall, this is a major step forward for immigrant rights and i'm rooting for murphy to get it done 
.
. the numbers are just staggering - 6,000 people detained in NJ alone 
.
. will Murphy find a way to balance competing interests and pass some meaningful legislation? or will it fall through the cracks 
?
they're already living in fear under trump's policies and now it's up to us to make a change 
if he vetoes parts of the privacy protection act, that's just not cool 
so let's all send phil murphy some love and encouragement 
he can do this!!! 
