Anti-Sanctuary State Bills Introduced by Connors, Rumpf & Gove

Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove have re-introduced legislation to deter illegal aliens from seeking employment and benefits in New Jersey.

The first legislative initiative re-introduced by the 9th District Legislative Delegation is S-157 and A-700 which would bar companies which knowingly hire illegal aliens from receiving public contracts, grants, loans, or tax incentives for a period of seven years.

The second initiative is S-156 and A-693 which would exclude illegal aliens from workers’ compensation and temporary disability benefits.

Connors, Rumpf and Gove explained their motivation to undertake this legislative effort to curtail illegal immigration to New Jersey:

“How is it that legal citizens can be prosecuted for breaking the law when, at the same time, illegal aliens are both rewarded and protected by Trenton when they are in our country illegally?  There is no grey area in the law. You are either in the country legally or not.

“For the overwhelming majority of our constituents, the rule of law has no exceptions, even when politics are at play.  The Murphy Administration and its allies in the State Legislature have sold out legal, taxpaying citizens to showcase New Jersey as a sanctuary state.  Law enforcement is told to look the other way at illegal immigration while law-abiding citizens are required to comply with ceaseless executive orders and mandates imposed by Trenton.

“Only businesses that do not hire illegal aliens should receive public contracts and tax incentives.  You would assume that a state with such a strong union presence would want to ensure additional protections for workers who are legal citizens.  Our legislation would establish a deterrent against illegal employment which drives down wages.

“Prior to the state of emergency, our Delegation had introduced legislation to prohibit illegal aliens from receiving workers’ compensation and temporary disability benefits.  This legislation takes on greater meaning to us as, over the past nearly two years, our office is contacted by constituents who are waiting on these benefits to be processed by an overwhelmed state Department of Labor.  We received similar complaints from constituents encountering problems with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission which now must give illegal aliens driver’s licenses as a result of one of the worst state laws enacted in recent memory.

“With the cost of living only increasing, the average taxpayer cannot afford, nor should be expected to, pay the full costs of funding programs and social services that persons in the country illegally should not be entitled to.”