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Resolution of the Mayor and Council of Princeton Regulating the Use of Municipal Property in Connection with Federal Civil Immigration Law Enforcement
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WHEREAS, the United States of America is a nation largely built, enriched, and sustained by generations of immigrants who arrived seeking safety, opportunity, and freedom; and
WHEREAS, Princeton is a diverse community whose residents represent many cultures, nations, and backgrounds and whose families contribute to the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the municipality; and
WHEREAS, immigrant residents and families are valued members of the Princeton community and contribute significantly to Princeton’s cultural vitality, workforce, local economy, and civic life; and
WHEREAS, Princeton’s strength has long been shaped by generations of residents who came from different countries and backgrounds and chose to build their lives in this community; and
WHEREAS, the current federal immigration system is widely recognized as fundamentally flawed, characterized by decades-long visa backlogs, a lack of accessible and humane legal pathways, and policies that prioritize aggressive enforcement over human dignity and family unity; and
WHEREAS, outdated immigration laws leave millions of long-term residents, including undocumented individuals, Dreamers (DACA recipients), and individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), in a state of permanent legal vulnerability without a clear path to citizenship; and
WHEREAS, the New Jersey State Constitution guarantees to every New Jerseyan certain inalienable rights, including the rights to enjoy and defend life and liberty, and to pursue and obtain safety and happiness; and
WHEREAS, constitutional protections, including due process and equal protection, apply to all persons within Princeton’s jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, Princeton is deeply committed to protecting all of its residents from threats to their safety, security, and legal rights, regardless of immigration status; and
WHEREAS, federal immigration law is enforced by the federal government, and not by states, and the United States Constitution prohibits the federal government from coercing or commandeering the states into assisting or facilitating the administration of federal law; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey Attorney General Directive 2018-6, known as the Immigrant Trust Directive, promotes public safety and strengthens trust in New Jersey’s law enforcement by drawing clear distinctions between state and local criminal law enforcement and federal civil immigration enforcement, and has been upheld in federal court; and
WHEREAS, the Safe Communities Act, which was signed into law on January 20, 2026, requires the Attorney General to develop, in consultation with appropriate government entities and stakeholders, within 180 days, model policies to ensure personal freedom in a variety of sensitive locations-including courthouses, health care facilities, public schools, domestic violence shelters, emergency shelters, family shelters, food pantries, and offices of social services, among others-which such institutions shall adopt to the fullest extent possible, and consistent with all applicable law; and
WHEREAS, property and resources owned and controlled by Princeton are intended to serve Princeton’s residents and the community, and may not lawfully be commandeered to facilitate federal civil immigration enforcement; and
WHEREAS, all residents should be able to access municipal services, public programs, and community resources without unnecessary fear or confusion about their rights or responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, public safety depends on residents’ trust in local government and its institutions, and in our elected officials’ commitment to uphold the rule of law; and
WHEREAS, fostering trust between residents and local government helps ensure that individuals feel comfortable reporting crime, cooperating with law enforcement, seeking assistance from municipal department, and participating in community life without fear; and
WHEREAS, the use of certain municipally-owned properties and resources for civil immigration enforcement purposes would interfere with or burden Princeton’s governmental activities, erode public trust in government, and undermine public safety; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2, Princeton possesses authority to regulate and control the use of municipally-owned property and resources in order to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill issued Executive Order No. 12, dated February 11, 2026, which provides in pertinent part that “[e]xcept as authorized by a judicial warrant or judicial order …, Executive Branch departments and agencies shall not permit or consent to federal immigration officers entering, accessing, or using non-public areas of State property for the purpose of facilitating federal enforcement of civil immigration law”; and
WHEREAS, the Council finds it to be in the best interest of the municipality to adopt a similar policy applicable to property owned or leased by Princeton, consistent with applicable State law;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Council of Princeton, County of Mercer, State of New Jersey as follows:
1. Princeton reaffirms its commitment to fostering a community where all residents may live, work, attend school, and access municipal services with dignity. Princeton will continue to promote public safety, encourage community cooperation with law enforcement, and ensure that Princeton’s policies respect constitutional rights and applicable law.
2. For purposes of this resolution, the following definitions shall apply.
“Federal immigration officers” shall mean an agent of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), federal Customs and Border Protection (CBP), any similar agency or successor agency, or any other federal law enforcement agency tasked with civil immigration enforcement or working in concert with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection.
“Judicial order” means an order that is issued by an Article III federal court, a federal magistrate judge, or a judge of the State of New Jersey appointed pursuant to Article XI, Section IV of the New Jersey Constitution.
“Judicial warrant” means a warrant based on probable cause and issued by a federal Article III judge, a federal magistrate judge, or a Superior Court judge of the State of New Jersey, that authorizes government authorities to search a location or apprehend a person who is the subject of the warrant.
3. Federal immigration officers shall not be permitted to enter, access or use any non-public area of Princeton’s buildings, facilities or property for federal civil immigration enforcement, unless pursuant to a valid judicial warrant, judicial order or otherwise authorized by law.
4. Federal, state or local government entities or personnel shall be prohibited from using any of Princeton’s buildings, facilities or property as a staging area, processing location, operations base or any other similar use for federal civil immigration enforcement operation.
5. This resolution shall apply to all Princeton employees, contractors, agents, departments, agencies, authorities, boards and commissions, and shall apply to all non-public areas in any building, structure, land, parking lot, garage, vehicle, park or other real or personal property owned, leased, operated, maintained or controlled by Princeton.
6. Princeton’s Administrator, Deputy Administrators and department heads shall take all necessary steps to implement this directive and shall ensure that relevant staff are aware of the requirements of this resolution and trained on an ongoing basis to interact with federal immigration officers accordingly.
7. Nothing in this resolution shall be construed to restrict, prohibit, or in any way prevent Princeton’s departments or agencies from:
a. Facilitating the enforcement of New Jersey’s criminal laws;
b. Complying with all applicable federal, State, and local laws and regulations;
c. Complying with a valid judicial warrant or other judicial order or responding to any request authorized by a valid judicial warrant or other judicial order;
d. Engaging in conduct permitted by the Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive, including, but not limited to, participating with federal authorities in a joint law enforcement task force, the primary purpose of which is unrelated to federal civil immigration enforcement; or
e. Allowing federal authorities access to any Princeton property that is open to the general public, on the same terms on which the general public can access such property.
8. If any portion of this resolution is determined invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
9. This resolution shall take effect immediately.