New Jersey Has the Power to Protect Immigrant Communities
New Jersey Has the Power to Protect Immigrant Communities
Concrete state policies can protect families when the federal government won't
TRENTON, NJ - JANUARY 28, 2026 — In response to the killing of a Minnesota resident by ICE agents and escalating federal attacks on immigrant communities, New Jersey Policy Perspective issues the following statement:
Nicole Rodriguez, President of New Jersey Policy Perspective:
“ICE agents killed Alex Pretti in Minnesota. He was 37, an American citizen, a nurse, someone who should have been safe. He’s not the first person killed by ICE, and communities of color have been bearing the brunt of this violence for years. No one is safe when federal agents operate without accountability. Immigrant families across New Jersey are watching, terrified they’re next. This is what state violence looks like, and it's exactly why New Jersey must act now to protect our neighbors.
“When the federal government threatens communities instead of supporting them, states have power. New Jersey can limit local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, fund legal defense services for immigrants facing deportation, and ensure that everyone — regardless of immigration status — can access health care, education, and public safety without fear. These aren’t abstract ideas. They’re concrete policies that keep families together and make it harder for federal agents to tear communities apart.
“This is what our work is for. We fight for policies that protect immigrant communities and fix our broken criminal justice system because everyone deserves safety, dignity, and the chance to build a life here. Right now, that means using every tool we have at the state level to stand between our neighbors and a federal government that sees them as targets. New Jersey can do this. We should.”
——————
About NJPP:
New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) is a nonpartisan think tank that drives policy change to advance economic, social, and racial justice through evidence-based research, strategic communications, and authentic partnerships.
