Rep. Josh Gottheimer was the only Democratic representative from New Jersey to vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act, a Republican-sponsored bill requiring the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants accused of crimes, including minor and petty offenses.
GOP Congressmen Chris Smith, Tom Kean Jr., and Jeff Van Drew all supported the draconian measure.
The legislation, which passed the House on Wednesday, has drawn strong criticism nationwide from civil rights groups, who argue it undermines due process by targeting individuals who have been merely accused, but not convicted, of crimes.
The bill could sweep up people charged with minor nonviolent offenses, such as shoplifting, unfairly expanding the scope of immigration enforcement.
Known as Donald Trump’s favorite Democrat in Congress during the fascist Republican’s first term, Gottheimer insisted his support was based on removing individuals who commit serious crimes, but that’s permitted by current law.
The Trump administration is already inciting anger in New Jersey with sweeping immigration raids targeting residents in Newark, including a US military veteran.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided a local store in Newark, detaining citizens, without producing a warrant, according to Mayor Ras Baraka, who is one of five Democrats competing in the Democratic primary against Gottheimer, a Wall Street darling.
“One of the detainees is a U.S. military veteran who suffered the indignity of having the legitimacy of his military documentation questioned,” said Baraka. “This egregious act is in plain violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees ‘the right of the people be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures….’ Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorized.”
“If you’re a violent criminal, you’re not welcome in New Jersey or in our country,” said Gottheimer, ignoring the fact that it threatens people who are not breaking laws.
Ironically, Gottheimer said, “But let me be clear: If the President thinks he is going to go into churches and schools to round up innocent people, that’s not okay by me, and I’ll do everything in my power to protect Jersey families…” immediately after he voted to let officials go into churches and schools to round up innocent people.
Ocean Seafood Depot owner Luis Janota said about a dozen ICE agents entered the business claiming that the received complaints but did not ask for anyone specific, he said.
“I was confused; they took three people who did not have any documentation on them,” Janota said. “I asked them [the agents] what documentation they were looking for, and they said it was a license or a passport. I thought, who walks around with a passport?”
“One of the guys was a military veteran, and the way he looked to me was because he was Hispanic. He is Puerto Rican and the manager of our warehouse. It looked to me like they were specifically going after certain kinds of people — not every kind, because they did not ask me for documentation for my American workers, Portuguese workers, or white workers,” Janota said.
Despite his assurances, Gottheimer declined to address specific concerns raised by fellow Democrats, including whether the bill’s broad application could lead to unjust deportations of individuals accused but not convicted of minor crimes.
The vote comes amid growing tensions over immigration policy during President Donald Trump’s second term, and shortly after Gottheimer released his trickle down tax cut plan outlining what was called “a Soprano State version of Reaganomics.”
The Laken Riley Act, named after a nursing student killed by an undocumented immigrant, has become a flashpoint for debates about public safety and immigration enforcement.
Migrants commit fewer crimes in the United States than native born citizens, although Trump has falsely claimed that there is a wave of ‘migrant crime.’
Activist groups like Make the Road NJ organized protests outside Gottheimer’s office ahead of the vote, urging him to oppose the measure.
“This bill gives President Trump more tools to weaponize the government against immigrant communities,” said Nedia Morsy, deputy director of Make the Road NJ. “New Jersey families deserve better from their representatives.”
Gottheimer’s support for the bill contrasts sharply with the positions of New Jersey’s other Democratic representatives who publicly opposed the legislation.
Even Blue Dog Democrat Mikie Sherrill joined her House colleagues in condemning the bill, calling it an unnecessary and harmful approach to immigration reform.
Republicans, on the other hand, praised the bill as a necessary step to enhance public safety.
Anti-abortion zealot Smith claimed that the bill addresses what he described as the consequences of lax border policies under the previous administration.
The bill’s passage highlights the continued polarization around immigration policy in Washington and sets the stage for contentious debates in the Senate.
As a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Gottheimer’s vote is likely to draw scrutiny from both his primary opponents and voters, especially in a state where immigrant communities play a significant role in public life.
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