By Matt Rooney
Legislation to criminalize the act of law enforcement officers wearing masks and codifying New Jersey sanctuary statehood will receive a hearing on Thursday before the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee.
Two of the bills were previously pocket vetoed by then-Governor Phil Murphy before he left office.
“I am extremely concerned that signing this bill, which differs from the Immigrant Trust Directive, would open New Jersey up to a new court challenge and renewed judicial scrutiny from judges who may not render the same decision upholding these critical protections,” Murphy explained at the time. “Renewed litigation would also put our time-tested Immigrant Trust Directive at risk, endangering hundreds of thousands of immigrants in New Jersey in one fell swoop. I cannot in good conscience allow that to happen. Re-opening the door to judicial scrutiny of our State’s immigration policies, combined with the Trump Administration’s increasingly targeted actions against states and cities, is a recipe for disaster for our immigrant brothers and sisters and puts them in greater danger. And that is not something I am willing to risk when the Directive is secure for the foreseeable future.”
Legislative Democrats clearly disagree with Murphy, or at least the base’s demand for action is outweighing Democrats’ collective tactical sense. Governor Sherrill, on the other hand, has avoided making strong pronouncements on the topic.
Meanwhile, the new anti-masking bill could subject law enforcement – local, state and federal – to up to six months in jail for wearing a mask outside of undercover work.
The hearing is open to the public; it’ss cheduled for 1:00 PM in Committee Room 11 on the 4th Floor of Trenton’s State House Annex.
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MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com’s founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of ‘The Matt Rooney Show’ on 1210 WPHT every Saturday evening from 7-9 PM EST.
