This bill aims to prohibit municipalities and counties in New Jersey from adopting any ordinances or resolutions that would require officials to refuse or fail to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Any existing ordinances that conflict with this requirement will be rendered void. Additionally, members of municipal or county governing bodies who vote for such non-cooperation policies after the bill's effective date will be guilty of a misdemeanor, facing potential fines and imprisonment, as well as forfeiture of their office. The bill also mandates that local government officers and employees must comply with lawful requests from federal agencies regarding immigration enforcement.

Furthermore, the bill establishes that the State will defend and indemnify municipal employees or officers against civil liability arising from their cooperation with federal immigration authorities, provided their actions do not stem from intentional misconduct. It also amends existing ethics regulations to include provisions that require state officers and employees to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement requests, thereby reinforcing the bill's intent to eliminate sanctuary city policies and ensure compliance with federal immigration laws.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40A:9-22.5, 52:13D-23