Plainfield Council to Consider Resolution Banning ICE, CBP from City Property Absent Warrant

PLAINFIELD, NJ — On Monday, the Plainfield City Council will consider a resolution that would make it the latest municipality to ban US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents from entering city-owned property without a valid judicial warrant or judicial order. The resolution would also explicitly prohibit city employees from assisting or cooperating with the federal agency absent a warrant.According to the resolution (here), the rule is based on State Executive Order Number 12, which created similar restrictions regarding state employees and state property.The resolution cites Plainfield as home to diverse immigrant communities, and prioritizes these residents' ability to access city services without fear. Similar laws have been passed in Jersey City, Kearny, Newark, Hoboken, North Bergen, New Brunswick, and Collingswood. Several counties have also enacted legislation.“The City of Plainfield’s employees and agents are hereby prohibited from assisting, facilitating, or cooperating with any federal, state, or local government entity regarding civil immigration enforcement using City property or resources, unless pursuant to a valid judicial warrant, judicial order, or as otherwise required by law,” reads the resolution.“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers shall not be permitted to enter, access, or use any non-public area in any building, structure, land, parking lot, garage, vehicle, park, or other real or personal property owned, leased, operated, maintained, or controlled by the City of Plainfield for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement, unless pursuant to a valid judicial warrant, judicial order, or as otherwise required by law,” continues the resolution.Plainfield and the surrounding area are believed to have a heavy ICE presence, though it is virtually impossible to put figures on it. Last week, TAPinto Plainfield observed an ICE arrest downtown.