Feds Put Bloomfield On 'Sanctuary City' List, Demand Compliance

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Bloomfield has landed on the Trump administration’s new list of sanctuary cities that are allegedly “defying federal immigration law,” although it’s unclear why the township has been cited – and what consequences may follow.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a list of towns and cities that it has identified as “sanctuary jurisdictions.” The list included several municipalities in Essex County: Bloomfield, East Orange, Maplewood, Montclair, Newark and South Orange.

The list was created as part of an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in April.

“These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem alleged.

“We are exposing these sanctuary politicians who harbor criminal illegal aliens and defy federal law,” Noem added. “Sanctuary politicians are on notice: comply with federal law.”

The DHS is now demanding that these jurisdictions “immediately review and revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws.”

Bloomfield and the other named towns and cities will receive formal notifications about the designation, federal authorities said.

No specific details were provided about why each town or city was placed on the list.

Several municipalities in New Jersey have declared sanctuary status. Bloomfield hasn't taken that specific step, but passed similar legislation when Trump took office for his first term in 2017. That year, the Bloomfield Town Council unanimously approved a resolution declaring the municipality as a “fair and welcoming” city.

“Our diversity is a source of our municipality’s strength and the Bloomfield Township Council is committed to ensuring that all our residents can live and pursue their livelihoods in peace and prosperity,” the resolution stated.

>> Read More: Bloomfield Welcomes Immigrants With ‘Sanctuary-Style’ Resolution

Earlier this year, the Bloomfield Town Council unanimously voted to approve a symbolic resolution in support of the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act, a bill that has been introduced in the Senate (S-3672) and Assembly (A-4987).

“The safety and well-being of our residents is my top priority,” Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell said. “By supporting the Immigrant Trust Act, we are not only safeguarding the rights of our immigrant neighbors, but also fostering trust between residents and local government.”

>> Read More: Bloomfield Council Backs ‘Immigrant Trust’ Bill In New Jersey

BLOOMFIELD MAYOR RESPONDS

Mundell issued a statement in the wake of this week's accusations from federal authorities, calling them "misleading and disappointing."

The mayor's statement follows below:

"The inclusion of Bloomfield on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s newly released list of so-called 'sanctuary jurisdictions' is both misleading and disappointing. We are a Fair and Welcoming Community, and we follow all federal and state laws, including the New Jersey Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Directives on federal immigration law enforcement.

"We categorically reject the false narrative that respecting our residents’ constitutional rights and humanity are somehow at odds with public safety. In fact, they are central to it. We believe public safety depends on cooperation between residents and their government. When people fear that seeking help from police or emergency services might lead to deportation or separation from their families, our entire community becomes less safe.

"Let me be clear: our policies do not shield individuals from lawful prosecution, nor do they interfere with federal immigration authorities operating within the bounds of the Constitution. Rather, our approach is grounded in a commitment to inclusion, public safety, civil rights, and community trust. Local law enforcement officers are not immigration agents, and our resources are rightly focused on keeping Bloomfield safe for everyone who calls it home.

"In Bloomfield, we stand by our residents - regardless of immigration status - and we will continue working to ensure that everyone feels safe, valued, and protected. Attempts to politicize local governance and public safety will not deter us from doing what is right for our community.

"We remain open to dialogue with state and federal partners, but will always uphold the values of justice, equity, and dignity for all who live here."

SANCTUARY CITIES

President Trump has repeatedly threatened to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities, but those efforts have largely been shot down in court.

Advocates in New Jersey have argued that legal precedent is on their side.

“The Trump administration is targeting New Jersey cities for standing up for its residents and our constitutional rights,” ACLU-NJ executive director Amol Sinha said last week.

“For decades, courts have held that the Constitution prevents the federal government from commandeering state and local resources for federal purposes, including immigration enforcement,” Sinha continued.

“This is yet another escalation of the Trump administration’s shameful campaign to intimidate states, cities, and elected officials who won’t do their bidding,” Sinha added.

• See Related: NJ Congresswoman Disputes Charges From Feds After ICE Scuffle
• See Related: Trespassing Charge Against NJ Mayor Dismissed, Prosecutor Says
• See Related: 'Absurd': NJ Mayors Speak On Federal Suit Against 'Sanctuary Cities'

As part of his campaign platform, Trump vowed to immediately launch a nationwide immigration crackdown. The president didn’t waste any time making his first moves. On his first day in office, the White House announced a sweeping wave of actions and executive orders, including several involving immigration.

“Over the last four years, the United States has endured a large-scale invasion at an unprecedented level,” the Trump administration said. “Millions of illegal aliens from nations and regions all around the world successfully entered the United States where they are now residing.”

“This cannot stand,” the president continued. “A nation without borders is not a nation, and the federal government must act with urgency and strength to end the threats posed by an unsecured border.”

In April, New Jersey's top federal prosecutor, Alina Habba – a Trump-appointee – announced that she has launched an investigation into Gov. Phil Murphy and state Attorney General Matt Platkin over a directive for local and state police not to cooperate with federal agents conducting immigration enforcement.

• See Related: U.S. Attorney Launches Investigation Into Top NJ Officials

Murphy’s administration has been largely supportive of immigration. Under his tenure, former AG Gurbir Grewal issued the "Immigrant Trust Directive," which limits cooperation between New Jersey law enforcement and immigration officials.

A bill that would make the directive state law is pending in the Legislature, but hasn’t advanced.

Meanwhile, immigrant rights groups in New Jersey have been putting up red flags about the impact that mass deportations will have across the state.

• See Related: NJ Immigrants Need More Protection From Trump, Activists Tell Governor
• See Related: Trump Targets Sanctuary Cities, NJ Immigrants Fight Back

In contrast to Trump’s repeated claims that such immigrants threaten public safety, advocates such as the American Immigration Council found that immigrants – including undocumented immigrants – commit crimes at a lower rate than people born in the United States.

“The scapegoating of ethnic and religious minorities is well-tread historical ground in the United States, and immigrants have always made for an easy target,” the national organization said. “Chinese, Irish, Italian, Muslim, Mexican—all these people and more have been falsely accused of bringing crime into the United States, particularly during times of economic or political unease.”

• See Related: NJ Undocumented Immigrants Pay $1B In Taxes, Study Says (Here’s How)
• See Related: NJ Businesses That ‘Threaten’ Immigrant Workers Will Face Penalties

According to the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice (NJAIJ), the state’s largest immigration coalition, Trump and his supporters are leading people on a wild goose chase by playing on their fears:

“Even though the rate at which undocumented immigrants are arrested for committing crimes is far below that of native-born citizens, advocates expect the administration will continue to use rare, sensationalized criminal cases emboldening anti-immigrant narratives to justify large-scale sweeps and workplace raids that result in the collateral arrests of bystanders.”

Immigrant rights groups in New Jersey have also criticized former president Joe Biden for his national policies in the past.

• See Related: NJ Activists Say Biden’s Playbook On Immigration Is Similar To Trump’s

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