202-18 Exhibit A - Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Application.pdf

principles of effective policing, victims, as well as witnesses and other persons requesting police assistance, should not be discouraged from approaching police officers out of fear of inquiry into their immigration status. In 1996, Congress authorized federal authorities to delegate civil and criminal immigration enforcement authority to local, county and State agencies that enter into a written agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).! Regardless of any additional enforcement powers granted pursuant to an agreement with ICE, however, the primary function of local, county and State agencies must be to enforce State law and to ensure public safety in the community. The exercise of federal immigration enforcement authority by State, county or local law enforcement officers must therefore be consistent with, and in support of, their State law enforcement mission. In addition, unlike federal task forces, to which participating officers are assigned on a full-time basis and are under direct and constant federal supervision, Section 287(g) officers need not obtain federal approval before taking enforcement actions in the name of the federal government. To further the priorities of strong relationships between law enforcement and all members of the community, as well as other fundamental principles of equal protection and civil rights, New Jersey has taken. a leadership position in eliminating racially-influenced policing, or racial profiling. In 2005, the Attorney General issued Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive 2005-1, which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in racially-influenced policing. In that directive, the Attorney General formalized and mandated the great advances that have been made in the State in eliminating racially- influenced policing practices. Additionally, the Legislature has affirmed that it is against the policy of this State for law enforcement officers to use race or ethnicity as a basis for initiating an investigation. See N.J.S.A. 2C:30-5. Consistent with public policy, statute, and Attorney General Directive, law enforcement agencies must refrain from any law enforcement strategies that risk undermining - or which create the impression of undermining - the prohibitions on racially-influenced policing. Accordingly, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the Laws of this

ining - or which create the impression of undermining - the prohibitions on racially-influenced policing. Accordingly, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the Laws of this State, and in furtherance of securing 1 See Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g). 2