Mike Inganamort, Republican Assemblyman for NJ’s 24th District, said the state’s recent legislation limiting law enforcement cooperation with federal authorities risks increasing security gaps, drawing parallels to pre-9/11 agency silos that heightened attack vulnerabilities
“The 9/11 Report called for greater information-sharing among law enforcement, warning that siloed agencies created dangerous blind spots and left us vulnerable to attack,” said Inganamort. “For New Jersey to block agencies from communicating with one another, even when it comes to serious criminal histories, is a step backward. Less coordination means more blind spots. New Jersey of all states should not forget the lessons of the 9/11 Report.”
Inganamort posted his statement on X in response to the New Jersey Legislature’s passage of three bills on January 12. These bills aim to restrict local assistance to federal immigration enforcement and include measures to protect immigrant privacy and limit data sharing. The legislation was sent to Governor Mikie Sherrill for signature amid ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the state. Inganamort used the 9/11 Commission Report to argue against such restrictions, saying they could recreate dangerous blind spots in law enforcement coordination.
New Jersey has the second-highest percentage of foreign-born residents in the U.S., at about 23%, and faces significant fiscal strains from immigration, according to estimates. The America First Policy Institute reports that illegal immigration costs the state billions annually in education, healthcare, and public safety. The new sanctuary bills may worsen this by reducing deportations and increasing local burdens. State data from the New Jersey Department of Corrections shows thousands of non-citizen inmates, highlighting potential resource impacts from limited federal cooperation.
Nationally, sanctuary policies have led to the release of thousands of criminal non-citizens, allowing them to reoffend and endanger communities. The Heritage Foundation reports that in recent years, over 10,000 ICE detainer requests were declined by sanctuary jurisdictions, resulting in the release of individuals with convictions for serious crimes like assault and drug trafficking. This has contributed to documented repeat offenses, undermining public safety and federal immigration enforcement efforts across the United States.
Inganamort has represented New Jersey’s 24th Legislative District in the General Assembly since January 2024. His district covers Sussex County and portions of Morris and Warren counties. Before his election, he served as mayor of Chester Township and worked in communications and public policy roles, including on Capitol Hill for Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen. He holds a B.A. in political science and communications from American University and an M.A. in American government from Georgetown University.
