For gubernatorial candidates, immigration represents a crossroads

Former state Senate President Steve Sweeney shocked many Democrats earlier this week when he said he would repeal New Jersey’s “sanctuary state” status if elected governor.

Sweeney’s unprompted statement places him in the moderate lane on immigration, which has jumped in prominence in the Democratic primary since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, a controversial, warrantless immigration raid in Newark, and a call from more than 15 progressive unions and advocacy groups to protect the state’s immigrants.

Immigration policy could serve as a fork in the road for Democrats looking to distinguish themselves in a crowded gubernatorial primary field.

A spokesperson for Sweeney, for example, told Politico the former Senate president would undo the state’s Immigrant Trust Directive, a policy limiting how often state and local law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration agents. Sweeney’s decision wasn’t made in a vacuum: Polling shows New Jerseyans have moved to the right on immigration, with a majority saying immigration to the U.S. should be more difficult.

“Everyone’s rights must be respected, but laws are laws,” Sweeney said in this week’s release. “As Democrats, we need to get back to listening to regular people. Illegal immigrants who commit crimes are not welcome in New Jersey, and as Governor, I will repeal New Jersey’s sanctuary state status.”

Sweeney isn’t aligned with Republicans on immigration — he criticized last week’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in Newark, for example.

But on the other side of the spectrum are progressive candidates like Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who has vowed to resist Trump’s plans to conduct a mass deportation campaign of undocumented immigrants throughout the country.

“Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorized,” Baraka said last week.

The increased pertinence of immigration could force Democratic candidates to take sides on an issue that divides not only Democrats and Republicans but also divides Democrats among themselves.

A poll from before Trump’s election (and before the recent controversies) showed immigration as the second most important issue for New Jersey voters.

And on Thursday, a coalition of unions and advocacy groups said they’ll at least partially base their endorsements on whether candidates promise to defend immigrants (and workers generally) from Trump policies that could affect the Garden State.

“It is a mistake to not stand in alliance with immigrants, especially with everything that has happened in the last week,” said Nedia Morsy, Make the Road Action’s deputy director.

The coalition includes 32BJ SEIU, Make the Road Action, New Jersey Citizen Action, the New Jersey Working Families Party, several Communications Workers of America locals, the Latino Action Network, and more than 10 other unions and advocacy groups. The coalition said it would also look favorably upon candidates who promise to protect public services from potential federal cuts and support regulations that protect the environment and unions.

The increased attention on immigration comes right after Hispanic voters swung toward Republicans by heavy margins. The 22 Hispanic-majority cities and towns in New Jersey swung 25 points to the right from 2020 to 2024 (though not a foolproof measure, it’s indicative of broader trends).

Some candidates have mostly marked out their lanes: Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly), a moderate, told Politico he supports the state’s status quo in terms of immigration policy.

A spokesperson for Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) didn’t specify whether she supported the Immigrant Trust Directive that Sweeney denounced, but did say some of Gov. Phil Murphy’s policies constituted “important protections,” per Politico.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, meanwhile, said the state’s immigration protections should go a step further and endorsed the Immigrant Trust Act. The bill, which hasn’t been voted on in either statehouse chamber, would largely ban government agencies and hospitals from asking about a person’s immigration status. Proponents have said the act would lessen the worries of immigrants who might not otherwise engage with legal or medical help.

Fulop touted Jersey City’s status as a sanctuary city and said the city sent guidance to public schools and businesses should ICE agents come knocking.

“The Trump approach of promulgating fear only further undermines safety and trust within at-risk communities and should be condemned,” Fulop said last week. “We will not change our local policies in Jersey City.”

The stakes for Democrats and immigration activists are clear. The two leading GOP gubernatorial candidates, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli and radio host Bill Spadea, have been in a race to the right on immigration.

“We stand with immigrants because immigrants are our neighbors and the fabric of our communities,” Morsy said.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Morsy is the deputy director of Make the Road New Jersey. She is the deputy director of Make the Road Action.