Outlaw sanctuary cities, says Assemblyman Ron Dancer

Officials in New Jersey "sanctuary cities," who don't go out of their way to help federal immigration authorities, would be forced to do so or face imprisonment and fines, under a measure being introduced to the state Legislature by shore Assemblyman Ron Dancer (R-12).

The measure is, in part, a response to the shooting death of a woman in San Francisco.

Katie Steinle's alleged killer is characterized as an undocumented immigrant who had been deported five times for felonies, and who had been released from a jail in the city over protests by federal immigration investigators seeking to apprehend him.

Trenton, Hightstown, Camden, Jersey City, Newark and several more New Jersey municipalities have been listed in multiple sources as sanctuary cities. The lack of a firm policy renders pinpointing difficult.

However, according to Dancer, "Numerous jurisdictions in California and elsewhere have established policies sharply limiting cooperation with federal authorities regarding illegal immigrants."

If his bill becomes law, illegal immigrants who are subjects of detainer requests by the federal Bureau of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be required to stay in custody for up to 48 hours. State or local officials who try to roadblock ICE would risk imprisonment, fines, penalties and ethics violation charges.

"There is no safe sancutary law in New Jersey and officials who look the other way are negligent in their duty," Dancer said in prepared remarks. "The consequences...can be tragic...We cannot tolerate officials adhering to an unspoken code that permits illegal immigrants to remain here once they have been identified."

ICE, under its Priority Enforcement Program, would determine probable cause for detention and, possibly, deportation.

Convictions that place an undocumented immigrant within the purview of the program include actual or suspected terrorism, national security threats, felonies, street and organized criminal gang activities, domestic violence, sexual abuse, burglary, unlawful use or possession of a firearm, and drug distribution.