September 26, 2019

(Hackensack, N.J.) The Bergen County Republican candidates are applauding the Ocean County Freeholders for filing a federal lawsuit against the state Attorney General’s office. The lawsuit was filed in response to a statewide edict that severely limits cooperation between state law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities (ICE).

“Ocean County Freeholders are standing up to Gov. Murphy and the Attorney General to support law enforcement and protect the public. Sadly, we can only wish the Democrat Bergen County freeholders had such courage,” said BCRO Chairman Jack Zisa.

The 2019 Republican freeholder candidates, Corrado Belgiovine, Alyssa Dawson and Katie Cericola, have criticized the incumbent Democratic Bergen Freeholders for failing to fight Gov. Murphy’s interference with law enforcement. Bergen County receives $16 million a year in federal funds for detaining these same illegal immigrants whom the Governor wishes to allow to roam our streets, said the GOP candidates.

“The Democratic freeholders bow down to Gov. Murphy’s pro-illegal edicts, yet have no problem profiting from detaining these same illegal immigrants,” said Belgiovine. “This is hypocritical.”

The Republican candidates said they will demand Bergen County join the Ocean County lawsuit against the Murphy administration and encourage other counties to do the same to overcome the Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive (ITD).

“The Attorney General’s edict is nothing but a political device that allows Gov. Murphy to continue to cater to the radical left and its desire to see New Jersey become more of a sanctuary state,” said Dawson. “The fact that the governor bypassed the Legislature to get his ITD made into law tells you how radical it is.”

“The number one job of government is to protect the people of this state, not to set up barriers to law enforcement for the sake of political pandering,” said Cericola. “Gov. Murphy and the Bergen Democratic freeholders are putting people in danger.”
The Immigrant Trust Directive prohibits New Jersey law enforcement officers from participating with ICE in enforcement operations and denies ICE access to state or local law enforcement resources.

The ITD ties the hands of law enforcement officers, correctional officers and prosecutors from effectively enforcing existing immigration law.

Ocean County’s lawsuit seeks a declaration that the Attorney General’s directive exceeds the lawful scope of his authority and is preempted by the federal government’s exclusive authority to regulate and enforce immigration laws. Ocean County also seeks a declaration that the Attorney General lacks authority to regulate the county’s sharing of inmate information with law enforcement agencies.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/tomsriver/ocean-county-sues-new-jersey-ag-over-immigrant-directive?utm_term=article-slot-1&utm_source=newsletter-daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter