Newark Police Department Limits Cooperation With Federal Immigration Agency

The police department in Newark, N.J., has decided to limit its cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

When an immigrant without legal status is arrested for a minor offense, such as shoplifting, the Newark Police Department says it will no longer honor a request from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency to keep that immigrant in custody.

Newark’s Police Director says the department wants to enhance its partnership with the city's immigrant communities.

“All residents, regardless of their immigration status, are safe to cooperate with the police,” said Udi Ofer, the executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey, which advocated for this policy change.

New York, Chicago and New Orleans are among cities that have already adopted similar policies. The federal immigration agency says the limited cooperation policy undermines public safety.