New Jersey Democrats Unveil Bold Anti-ICE Bill with Provocative Acronym
New Jersey's Democratic lawmakers have taken a firm stance against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with the unveiling of a new legislative proposal.
The “Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered Act,” abbreviated as the F*** ICE Act, was introduced in the State Assembly on Thursday. This legislation seeks to empower residents to sue federal immigration officials for actions deemed unconstitutional under state law.
“There must be real consequences if ICE breaks the law,” stated Katie Brennan, an Assembly Democrat co-sponsoring the bill alongside former Hoboken mayor Ravi Bhalla, also a Democrat. The New York Times reported her comments.
While the sponsors did not overtly highlight the acronym's provocative nature, Brennan remarked to NJ.com that the bill “speaks for itself.”
This legislation is part of a larger initiative aimed at safeguarding immigrant rights in New Jersey, recognized as one of the most diverse states in the country.
The introduction of these bills follows recent ICE detentions in Jersey City and Hoboken, both situated just a few miles from New York City.
During one raid, Jersey City Councilman Jake Ephros confronted an ICE agent about the lack of a warrant. The agent responded dismissively, “We don’t need a warrant, bro. Stop getting that into your head,” as reported by NJ.com.
On social media, many users lauded the proposed legislation as a countermeasure to President Trump’s stringent immigration policies.
“PLEASE NEW JERSEY PASS THE LITERAL F**K ICE ACT PLEASE,” one user passionately urged.
Conversely, local Republican lawmakers expressed dismay at the bill's bluntness.
“So they’re doing acronyms now,” Republican Assemblyman Mike Inganamort commented on X. “This sort of radicalism is the inevitable result of an unchecked, 25-year Democratic Majority. It’s what our Republican Minority stands against and why elections matter,” he added.
Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia remarked, “The bill title is wild, but the premise is wilder.”
“I don’t have the text yet, but if it means what it sounds like, that’s illegal entry followed by a state-created pathway to sue over enforcement,” she noted.
Several ICE-related proposals are advancing through the New Jersey Legislature, including revised versions of two bills that Governor Phil Murphy vetoed prior to leaving office last month.
The state Senate and Assembly are expected to vote on these bills next week before they reach the desk of new Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat known for her criticism of Trump and ICE.
Sherrill has already enacted an executive order establishing a statewide portal for residents to report federal immigration enforcement activities through photos and videos. Additionally, she has implemented a directive prohibiting ICE agents from accessing non-public areas of state property without a judicial warrant, according to NJ.com.
