Assemblymembers Ravi Bhalla and Katie Brennan Pledge to Help Pass Immigrant Protection Laws Vetoed by Gov. Murphy

New Assembly members say New Jersey has to use every tool available to keep communities safe from ICE

Hoboken – Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla (D-Hoboken) and Assemblywoman Katie Brennan (D-Jersey City) pledged to help pass the two immigrant protection bills that were pocket vetoed on Tuesday by Governor Phil Murphy in one of his final acts before leaving office.

The Privacy Protection Act (A6309) would have established new data privacy protections limiting what personal information state agencies can share with federal immigration enforcement, and legislation to codify New Jersey's Immigrant Trust Directive (A6310) would have prevented local police from participating in federal immigration enforcement.

“Federal agents are conducting raids across New Jersey as we speak. We have to respond to the very real threats at hand instead of worrying about what might happen if we stand up for ourselves,” said Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla. “People need protection and we can’t afford to wait. I’m ready to work with my colleagues in the Legislature to get these bills passed as soon as possible.”

“States have power to keep our communities safe, but only if we use it. Vetoing these bills is a total misunderstanding of the moment we’re in. When you give up ground without a fight, it only makes the Trump administration’s job easier,” said Assemblywoman Katie Brennan. “I’m going to sign onto these bills the moment they’re re-introduced, and I’m going to fight like hell to get them passed. This is the bare minimum we can do to protect people from ICE.”

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