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Atlantic City Council adopts resolution backing New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act; chief reiterates AG directive limiting local cooperation with civil immigration
Summary
Council moved Resolution 89 forward and approved a resolution supporting the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act and local "know your rights" education; speakers urged protections for immigrant residents and the police chief said local departments do not participate in civil immigration enforcement except in criminal matters.
Atlantic City Council advanced and passed a resolution backing the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act and asking the city to support local "know your rights" education and outreach for immigrant residents.
Why it matters: supporters said the resolution would reduce fear in immigrant communities and improve reporting to police by ensuring residents understand their rights and the limits of local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Public testimony: Irvin Moreno Rodriguez, president of Equado Unido (an immigrant-rights organization), told the council the immigrant community is "the backbone of Atlantic City" and urged the council to pass the resolution and host educational workshops. He said the city needs to protect residents from fear of civil immigration enforcement so people will still report crimes and seek services.
PuebLo Diesel executive director Cristian Moreno Rodriguez (same name but a distinct speaker) asked council to "codify" the directive by supporting the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act and to partner with local organizations to host rights workshops and resource events.
Council action and vote: Council moved the resolution to the front of the agenda and held discussion. The recorded tally at the meeting showed seven votes in the affirmative, one abstention and one no, and the president declared the motion passed. The council directed the administration to coordinate outreach and education in partnership with local community groups.
Police briefing: Atlantic City Police Chief responded to public concerns and described the state attorney general's immigration trust directive (issued Feb. 2018). He said that under the directive and state policy, local law enforcement agencies do not participate in civil immigration enforcement (immigration is routinely a civil matter), but the department will comply in criminal investigations and where a judicial warrant exists. The chief said that policy aims to ensure victims and witnesses are not deterred from reporting crimes.
Implementation: supporters asked the city administration to work with community groups to host "know your rights" workshops and to disseminate the directive in multiple languages as part of the council's stated agenda to support immigrant community safety.
