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Trenton police outline limits on cooperation with ICE, urge calm and targeted public messaging
Summary
Police Director Steve Wilson told council that New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive limits voluntary cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and said ICE will target people involved in serious crimes. He advised the mayor and council on a communication protocol to avoid compromising investigations.
Steve Wilson, Trenton’s police director, told the City Council on Jan. 28 that New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive (AG Directive 2018-6) limits the department’s voluntary assistance to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and that local officers may not detain, question or search people solely because of suspected immigration status.
Wilson said the directive was written to strengthen trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities and that Trenton officers cannot “stop, question, arrest, search, or detain any individual based solely on actual or suspected immigration status.” He said officers also cannot participate in ICE civil immigration enforcement or provide ICE access to local law-enforcement resources, including databases or facilities.
Wilson told councilors that ICE’s stated operational focus in Trenton will be people involved in “part 1” violent or serious crimes — including homicide, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault — and members of violent gangs. He cited specific arrests made in the region in recent months as examples of the kinds of targets ICE has pursued.
Notification and public communication: Wilson said the federal government is not legally required to notify local authorities before operating, though he expects ICE will typically notify law enforcement when the agency runs targeted operations. When the department does receive information it intends to pass on, Wilson said he will route it through the mayor’s office and then the council president, and the council president will advise whether information may be made public. He advised council members not to disclose operational details that could compromise federal investigations.
Councilors repeatedly asked whether the city could publicly reassure residents. Several members urged the administration to issue a clear statement explaining what local police can and cannot do and that schools and houses of worship are not targets for normal enforcement actions. Wilson said arrest information is public information and that the department would provide public updates when legally permitted. He also recommended avoiding speculation that could stoke panic.
Why it matters: Rumors about ICE activity and school-site enforcement had generated concern among residents and parents. City officials said clear, factual communication would reduce fear and avoid undermining ongoing criminal investigations.
Questions left open: Wilson said in some cases the department must provide ICE with information regarding serious offenses, but he affirmed that local officers will not participate in civil immigration enforcement operations, and that any public notification will be handled carefully to avoid jeopardizing investigations.
