📌 FOLLOW-UP FROM MONDAY’S TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING
One additional item from Monday night’s meeting is worth a closer look.
During her update, Committeewoman Eman El-Badawi brought up the immigration related proposal previously referred to as “Ordinance #1,” saying she believes it deserves more attention from the other Township Committee members.
For some background, the original proposal was fairly extensive. It would restrict the use of municipal employees, police personnel, funds, property, equipment, databases and facilities in connection with federal civil immigration enforcement. It also included required employee training, departmental protocols, reporting and complaint procedures, and possible disciplinary action for violations.
The original proposal specifically listed municipal traffic and crowd control during immigration-enforcement operations among the prohibited activities.
During public comment, resident Jenny Psaki also raised the issue and provided the Committee with copies of Governor Mikie Sherrill’s Executive Order No. 12, which addresses the use of State controlled property in connection with federal civil immigration enforcement.
Psaki also discussed what could happen if an immigration enforcement action became chaotic and created public safety concerns. That raises a practical question about the original proposal: How would its crowd control restriction apply if Cranbury Police were responding to an independent public safety situation rather than assisting with immigration enforcement?
At this point, it’s not clear what, if anything, the Committee will consider next. The original Ordinance #1 and Executive Order No. 12 are different measures.
No new Cranbury ordinance on this issue was introduced Monday night.