Jersey City Expands Immigrant Protections with New Executive Order

Jersey City Mayor James Solomon signed an executive order expanding protections for immigrant residents, citing what he described as a national “assault on immigrant families.” Joined by federal, state, and local officials at Liberty State Park, Solomon announced new policies intended to limit city cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

“This cruelty will not be contained,” Solomon said. “We have already seen American citizens detained, teargassed, and pepper-sprayed. In Jersey City, we choose a different path. We choose to protect everyone, including immigrants.”

The order outlines three key changes: mandatory protocols and training for all city employees regarding interactions with immigration authorities, a ban on the use of city property for ICE operations, and expanded access to legal support through nonprofit partnerships. “We will not be bullied into treating an administrative detainer as a court order,” Solomon said. “When immigrant families live in fear, they stop reporting crimes, taking children to school, or seeing doctors, which makes everyone less safe.”

Congressman Rob Menendez called the policy shift essential. “Trump lied when he said enforcement would only target criminals,” Menendez said. “ICE’s own data shows people being detained have often been here for over 15 years. We cannot be silent when a five-year-old like Liam is used as bait by ICE.”

Congresswoman LaMonica McIver echoed that sentiment. “They are deporting people with cancer and killing American citizens in broad daylight,” she said. “Last week in New Jersey, a six-year-old was found wandering the streets because her father was detained while getting her food. We will not hand over our power to ICE.”

State Senator Raj Mukherji, calling diversity “a strength to be embraced,” urged the legislature to pass previously vetoed bills that would codify the Immigrant Trust Directive and safeguard privacy. “My own son is six, the same age as Liam,” Mukherji said. “It is complicated to explain ICE to children when we teach them to respect uniforms.”

Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez described seeing nine unmarked cars outside his daughter’s school. “This fear undermines public safety,” he said. “I was proud to sponsor the Immigration Trust Act to restore trust between communities and government.”

Advocates also voiced support. “We have a rogue and lawless agency terrorizing communities,” said Amul Sinha of the ACLU of New Jersey. “It is up to state and local officials to defend those who are most vulnerable.”

Lauren Herman of Make the Road New Jersey cited a whistleblower memo showing ICE agents were encouraged to enter homes without judicial warrants. “This executive order makes it clear that local resources will be used to support rather than separate families,” she said.

Mayor Solomon concluded with a personal reflection, recounting how a relative fled persecution in Tsarist Russia and arrived through Ellis Island. “We must make that the American story, not the dark division the president wants,” he said.