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Rutherford council opens formal review after residents press for immigrant protections and Ramadan crescent lighting
Summary
Residents urged the Rutherford Borough Council to back codifying the State Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive and to restore a month-long Ramadan crescent lighting in Lincoln Park; the council voted to add the matter to the agenda and instructed borough attorneys to compare the proposed Immigrant Trust Act to local police policy.
Residents filled the public-comment period of the Feb. 9 Rutherford Borough Mayor and Council meeting urging elected officials to adopt a formal stance supporting the State Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive and to reinstate a Ramadan crescent lighting display canceled last year.
Several speakers from Rutherford Indivisible and other neighborhood groups asked the council to pass a resolution endorsing the Immigrant Trust Act, legislation tied to the 2019 Immigrant Trust Directive intended to limit local cooperation with certain federal immigration enforcement actions. Erin Dillon, a Rutherford resident and member of Rutherford Indivisible, asked the council to “pass a resolution in support of codifying into law the State Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive” to reassure immigrant neighbors they can seek services without fear of detention or deportation.
The request gained multiple speakers: Denise Corradini described family concerns about warrantless detentions and urged the council to act; Sarah Asher noted that roughly 20% of the borough’s population is Hispanic and 20% foreign born and said Rutherford could join neighboring towns that have adopted similar measures; Laura Ninger and Barbara Bivin also asked the council to support protections and education for immigrant residents.
Separately, residents pressed the council to restore the Crescent or Ramadan lighting in Lincoln Park after the borough canceled the month-long display in 2025 under a new events policy. Usman Khan and other speakers said the lighting fostered inclusion and asked the borough to approve a display from Feb. 16 through Mar. 23, 2026.
Council members responded by separating the policy and legal questions. Several council members expressed personal support for inclusion but said they needed more information about legal and operational implications before acting. Councilwoman (speaker 6) and Councilman Coakley both said they supported a public discussion and noted communication gaps during the prior year’s policy process. Councilman Guzman said he would rely on professional guidance from the police chief and borough attorneys to make an informed decision.
On a motion from the council, the council voted to add a discussion item to the agenda and later approved a motion instructing borough attorneys to research and summarize the Immigrant Trust Act and how it would affect borough policy and police operations. Council members asked that the attorney compare the proposed state legislation to Rutherford’s current police policy and identify any risks tied to adopting a local resolution.
The discussion closed with the council president and borough administrator agreeing to prepare a focused report for the next meeting and to invite input from the police chief. No ordinance or resolution adopting the Immigrant Trust Act was passed at the Feb. 9 meeting.
What’s next: Borough attorneys will prepare a summary comparing the state proposal and the borough’s policies and present findings to the council at a future meeting; the council also signaled willingness to hold a follow-up public discussion that could lead to a future resolution vote.
