New Jersey Senate Republicans

09/03/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/03/2026 12:53

LD9: NJ's Sanctuary State Policies Jeopardize Federal Funding for Assistance Programs

News Flash

LD9: NJ's Sanctuary State Policies Jeopardize Federal Funding for Assistance Programs

Carmen Amato Posted on September 03, 2026

Senator Carmen Amato, Jr., Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre are demanding that Governor Sherrill' comply with the Trump Administration's requirement to report any illegal immigrant living in the state.

The 9th District Legislative Delegation reacted to a recent legal opinion issued by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel "clarifying that when a state chooses to participate in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs, all agencies within that state - not only those that administer TANF or SSI benefits - must report individuals known to be not lawfully present in the United States to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)."

Amato, Rumpf and Myhre, issued the following statement:

"No one should be surprised that New Jersey's reckless sanctuary state policies are jeopardizing federal funding for vital assistance programs established for American citizens.

"Misguided sanctuary state extremists who equate open borders to open enrollment, don't understand or simply don't care that illegal immigrants are draining public resources that they are not entitled to under federal law. TANF and SSI were established to assist our most vulnerable U.S. citizens, including the elderly and disabled.

"It's unconscionable that citizens enrolled in these programs are denied their full level of benefits so that someone in the country illegally, who has likely never paid taxes, can openly scam the system and drain limited public resources. Sanctuary state policies also force American taxpayers to pay more for our schools and health care as well as making it that more difficult for law enforcement to protect our communities.

"New Jersey should immediately comply with federal immigration enforcement policies, including working with ICE, to protect the rights of U.S. citizens who expect their government to abide by the rule of law."

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