Released by New Jersey Due to Covid, and Immediately Re-Arrested by ICE

Of the more than 2,000 New Jersey state prisoners released Wednesday as a way to ease crowding due to Covid, 88 were immediately re-arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the agency. 

New Jersey is considered a sanctuary state, but prison officials can notify ICE when inmates convicted of certain crimes are released. That's how the historic mass-release on Wednesday became a boon for immigration agents, who immediately re-incarcerated freed prisoners it says were convicted of violent crimes or drug offenses. While some may be undocumented, others could be permanent residents who were deportable because of prior convictions.

Immigration advocates want Governor Phil Murphy to totally ban the transfer of freed prisoners to ICE.

The state says 98 other freed inmates wanted by municipal, county, and out-of-state law enforcement agencies were also re-arrested.