By Donald Gilpin

In a statement from the Princeton Mayor and Council issued last Friday, February 21, the town of Princeton has reaffirmed its support for its immigrant residents.

Princeton’s commitment to recognize, support, and serve its immigrant community “remains as strong as ever today,” the posting in English and Spanish on the municipal government website states.

Amidst an onslaught of stringent new federal policies, threats of mass deportations, and stepped up Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in New Jersey and throughout the country, immigrant communities have felt the pressure and anxiety, with some individuals fearful about going out to work or sending their children to school. “The ripple effects of these policies are real and deeply felt in our community,” one Princeton resident wrote in an email to the Council president.

“The new federal administration’s policies on immigration enforcement do not change the work we do for our community,” the statement from Mayor and Council asserts. “Princeton continues to follow the guidance outlined in the New Jersey Attorney General’s Directive 2018-6, which strengthens trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities. We want to assure all our residents that you are, first and foremost, members of our community, and we remain steadfast in our mission to serve and support you.”

The statement goes on to explain that enforcing immigration laws is not the business of local police officers.

“It is also critically important for our community to understand that the Princeton Police Department’s stated policy is to protect the public by investigating and enforcing New Jersey’s criminal laws — not civil immigration violations,” the statement continues. ”Engaging in immigration enforcement would not only blur the distinction between federal immigration law and state and local laws, but also risk undermining the trust our officers have worked hard to build with the public.”

In 2015, Princeton became the first municipality in New Jersey to join Welcoming America, “a nonprofit leading a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs, including immigrants,” according to the organization’s website. Princeton has not adopted the “sanctuary city” label but rather the less controversial designation as a “welcoming city,’ and has maintained policies that limit local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

An ICE raid in downtown Princeton in July 2024 saw no involvement by the Princeton Police Department, and local government officials were not informed of the raid in advance. Princeton Mayor Mark Freda criticized ICE’s failure to communicate with local or state governments concerning their incursion into town.

Last Friday’s statement also raised the issue of possible federal funding cuts, which have been threatened in response to local communities that have not cooperated with ICE, though the legality of such reprisals has been questioned.

“In this period of uncertainty, we share the concerns many in our community have voiced about how potential federal funding cuts could negatively impact vulnerable communities,” the Council statement reads. “We are closely monitoring new developments and remain in regular contact with state agencies and advocacy organizations. As we work to assess what these changes mean for our residents, we will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.”

The Mayor and Council’s “message to the community” concluded, “For years, Princeton’s Human Services Department has provided information and services to Princeton’s underserved communities, and it will continue to do so. The Mayor and Council are committed to ensuring that regardless of your age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or place of birth, you are welcome in Princeton.”

Last week’s February 19 Town Topics reported on “Recent Immigrants Feeling Pressured by Trump Policies,” noting that at the time of publication Council was in the process of deliberating in a closed session “regarding immigration directives and orders.” Local residents expressed their concerns to Council after reading the February 19 article, and those concerns were rapidly addressed by Council President Mia Sacks.

Sacks, in an email, assured the concerned individuals that there would be no change in Princeton’s commitment to follow New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal’s Trust Directive 2018-6. She went on to state, “The town was in the process of crafting a statement to reassure the community not only of our continued commitment to the principles outlined in the updated Trust Directive, but also to maintaining and building upon the trust established between our immigrant community and the Princeton Police Department and local government over many years.”

In a February 25 text message to Town Topics, Sacks asked that an additional note be included to emphasize Princeton’s position on its support of the immigrant community. She wrote, “There is tremendous anxiety in our town about the potential impact of what we see happening at the federal level. At present nothing has changed in Princeton in terms of funding resources and the unwavering commitment to our immigrant community by elected officials, municipal staff, and local law enforcement. We issued a statement last week to underscore this continuity.”