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Hudson County residents urge commissioners to back New Jersey 'Immigrant Trust Act' resolution
Summary
Dozens of Hudson County residents urged the Board of County Commissioners to support a resolution backing the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act, citing recent incidents at Braddock Park and asking the county to expand legal services and reporting protocols; the transcript shows public comment and commissioner commitments but no recorded final vote on the resolution in this meeting.
Hudson County residents packed the public-comment portion of a county commissioners meeting to press elected officials to support a proposed county resolution backing the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act (Resolution 32).
Courtney Walker, a Jersey City resident, told commissioners she had observed “six armed individuals” in Braddock Park, two with visible holsters and two with their faces covered, and said the group avoided camera identification; she said a sheriff’s officer questioned the person filming rather than the armed group and asked the county to investigate the incident and establish clearer policies when federal immigration agents appear on county property. “Supporting this resolution is about both public safety and human decency,” Walker said.
Other speakers described personal encounters and community concern. Sarah (a resident, parent and PTA vice president) said the resolution would protect victims of domestic violence and human trafficking who might otherwise avoid contacting police. Adrian Ghaina, who identified himself as a lifelong Jersey City resident and child of immigrants, described his parents’ immigration experience and urged the board to back the resolution and take it to the Statehouse. Maya Bonta Aronoff and others asked what counties can do beyond a resolution, including exploring bans on immigration enforcement in county parks, expanding legal services and using county funds to support families affected by detentions.
A commissioner who spoke from the dais recounted recent outreach to a family involved in the Braddock Park incident, thanked county clerk staff and counsel who assisted the family, and said the county should convene the locally funded program “1 New Jersey” to expand legal access and representation; the commissioner asked administrators to bring that group to the next caucus for discussion.
Multiple speakers emphasized the chilling effect that immigration enforcement can have on reporting crimes such as domestic violence. “We need to provide emergency social services — child care, mental health services, rental assistance — for families who are ripped apart by detentions or deportations,” Naomi Benson Court told the board.
The transcript records extensive public comment in favor of Resolution 32 and several commissioners’ remarks calling for follow-up, but it does not include a formal roll-call vote on Resolution 32 during this meeting. Commissioners did adopt other ordinances and bond measures during the same session (see separate summary). The public-record comments repeatedly asked for: a county investigation of the Braddock Park incident, clearer county policies for interactions with federal immigration agents on county property, expanded legal representation measures, and visible public briefings on enforcement activity.
What’s next: Commissioners asked staff to convene relevant partners, including 1 New Jersey, and to return with options for legal access and support. The transcript does not record a formal adoption vote on Resolution 32 during this session.
