On January 25th, 2016 President Trump signed an executive order targeting so-called “sanctuary cities”, which limit cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration agents.

There is no legal definition of a “Sanctuary City”, however, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security’s enforcement arm, found that 165 jurisdictions across the country “have a specific policy limiting cooperation with federal authorities,” according to an analysis of ICE records obtained by The Texas Tribune.

Phil Swibinski, spokesman for North Bergen, said that the township has never declared itself a sanctuary city — but that the North Bergen Police Department follows the attorney general’s guidelines that state that they have to check immigration status only for people arrested and charged with an indictable offense.

“If someone is arrested for a misdemeanor, they don’t check the immigration status of that person, but that is what I think every police department in the state does, and that is not unique,” said Swibinski. “We are not sure how we landed on the lists.”

He said the township and its officials have been helpful to undocumented immigrants who live there, and that Mayor Nicholas Sacco has been supportive of former President Barack Obama’s immigration policies, including one that gave deportation waivers to immigrants living in the U.S. illegally who were brought to the country as children.

Other Mayors in the state such as Jersey City’s Mayor Steven Fulop and Newark’s Mayor Ras Baraka have taken additional steps to ensure that the new President’s executive orders will not affect the people of their respective cities. Fulop released a statement, “we intend to stand by our principles and values as a city,” while Baraka said he saw “no reason to change” Newark’s policies.

Read more at NorthJersey.com

Read more at TheAtlantic.com

NORTH BERGEN — Nearly 400 residents packed into the Schuetzen Park Casino Room on January 10th to meet New Jersey’s potential next governor as Mayor Nick Sacco welcomed Phil Murphy to North Bergen for a Town Hall Meeting. Murphy, who has been endorsed by Mayor Sacco and the Hudson County Democratic Organization, answered questions from residents and outlined his plans to grow the economy, create jobs, increase school funding and much more.

“After eight disastrous years of Chris Christie I could not be more excited to support someone like Phil Murphy,” said Mayor Sacco. “Phil Murphy understands the challenges that North Bergen has faced and knows what communities like ours need to thrive. I am wholeheartedly supporting him and believe that he will be our next governor.”

Attendees at the Town Hall Meeting included Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez, North Bergen Commissioners Hugo Cabrera, Allen Pascual, Frank Gargiulo and Julio Marenco, Freeholder Anthony Vainieri, Sheriff Frank Schillari, West New York Mayor Felix Roque, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis and many other local elected and municipal officials.

“Mayor Sacco and his administration have accomplished a lot in North Bergen with limited state resources for public education, economic development, job creation, public safety and the like, but they could do much more with a governor who recognizes the importance of truly investing in our communities,” said Murphy. “North Bergen, and towns like it, are key to unlocking New Jersey’s potential and I am excited to be a partner to this excellent community.”

Murphy has held dozens of Town Hall events throughout the state since announcing his candidacy last spring, attracting large crowds and thoughtful conversation about the issues facing the state. He has been endorsed by Democratic leaders throughout the state and is running for the party’s nomination in the upcoming June primary election.