Princeton Adopts Resolution Restricting ICE Access To Town Buildings, Facilities

PRINCETON, NJ – Princeton adopted a resolution that bars federal immigration officers from entering non-public areas of municipal property for civil immigration enforcement unless they have a judicial warrant or court order.

The Mayor and Council approved the resolution at its Monday meeting. It takes effect immediately.

Under the resolution, federal immigration officers cannot enter, access or use non-public areas of town buildings, facilities or property for civil immigration enforcement, unless they have a valid judicial warrant, a judicial order or other legal authority. The resolution defines "federal immigration officers" as agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, similar agencies, or any other federal agency doing civil immigration enforcement.

It also says federal, state and local government entities cannot use Princeton property as a staging area, processing location or operations base for a federal civil immigration enforcement operation.

The policy covers all town employees, contractors, agents, departments, boards and commissions. It applies to non-public areas of any building, land, parking lot, garage, vehicle, park or other property that Princeton owns, leases, operates or controls. The township administrator, deputy administrators and department heads must carry out the policy and train staff on it.

Councilwoman Leticia Fraga said she and Council member Leighton Newlin first asked to explore a policy on the use of municipal property for federal civil immigration enforcement. She said the resolution came out of a review of policies in other New Jersey towns and one adopted by Mercer County.

The proposal went to the public safety committee, where the police chief took part in the discussion, Fraga said. The town's legal counsel wrote the first draft. It then went to the Princeton CARES committee, and the final version includes that group's comments and suggestions.

"We are firmly committed to protecting the safety, security, and legal rights of all of our residents, irrespective of immigration status," Fraga said.

"This resolution reaffirms our dedication to fostering a dignified community where everyone can live, work, and access services, while upholding public safety, encouraging law enforcement cooperation, building trust, and respecting constitutional rights," she said.

Mayor Mark Freda said a critical part of the resolution is that it controls access to non-public areas without a judicial warrant. He said immigration officers "could not just wander into any and all properties owned by the town into non-public areas without proper legal authority, which is pretty important."

What the policy does not change

The resolution says it does not prevent town departments from:

• Helping enforce New Jersey criminal laws.

• Following federal, state and local laws and regulations.

• Complying with a valid judicial warrant or order.

• Taking part in conduct allowed under the state attorney general's Immigrant Trust Directive, including joint law enforcement task forces whose main purpose is unrelated to civil immigration enforcement.

• Letting federal authorities into areas open to the public, on the same terms as anyone else.

The resolution cites several state actions. They include Attorney General Directive 2018-6, known as the Immigrant Trust Directive, and the Safe Communities Act, signed Jan. 20, 2026. That law requires the attorney general to develop model policies for sensitive locations within 180 days.

It also cites Gov. Mikie Sherrill's Executive Order No. 12, dated Feb. 11. Under that order, executive branch agencies cannot allow federal immigration officers into non-public areas of state property to help enforce civil immigration law without a judicial warrant or order.

The resolution says Princeton has the authority to regulate its own property under state law.

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