Resident urges Cumberland County to back state Immigrant Trust Act and place resolution on next agenda

At the Cumberland County commissioners meeting, Fairfield Township resident Shoshana Osofsky read a proposed resolution asking the board to urge the state legislature to pass the Immigrant Trust Act (S3672/A4987) and asked how to have the resolution placed on the board’s agenda.

Osofsky summarized the resolution, saying the directive would codify protections of the existing Immigrant Trust Directive so that residents could interact with county services without fear their personal information would be shared with federal immigration authorities. "Whereas New Jersey is one of the most diverse states within a nation of immigrants," Osofsky read, and she described data points and reasons the resolution would promote community stability and public safety. She asked clerks and county staff how to get the item on next month’s agenda for formal consideration.

The board responded to Osofsky by thanking her and directing her to staff; commissioners indicated the clerk would transmit items and staff would advise how to place the resolution on a future agenda. The transcript records Osofsky requesting the county call on the legislature and governor to act and asking the clerk to transmit copies to legislative leaders and sponsors listed in the resolution text.

The resolution text read at the podium enclosed background statements about immigration's role in the county’s economy and public‑safety arguments for limiting local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The board did not vote on a county resolution during this meeting; Osofsky requested placement on a future agenda.