Trenton, New Jersey — Democratic-led states are advancing legislation aimed at limiting future employment prospects for new ICE hires as President Trump expands federal immigration enforcement under his second term.
Following Congress’s passage of the Big Beautiful Bill, which allocated roughly $30 billion to expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement staffing, ICE has doubled its workforce to about 22,000 officers. The hiring campaign has drawn political backlash in several states where lawmakers argue federal tactics have become overly aggressive.
In New Jersey, Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla introduced legislation that would bar individuals who joined ICE between September 2025 and 2029 from holding state or local government jobs. “If you make that decision, there will be consequences,” Bhalla said. Governor Mikie Sherrill recently signed an executive order restricting ICE access to certain state properties.
Similar proposals have emerged in Maryland and California. Maryland Delegate Adrian Boafo introduced the “ICE Breaker Act,” preventing state police agencies from hiring recent ICE employees. In California, Assemblymember Anamarie Ávila Farías proposed the “Melt ICE Act,” restricting former ICE hires from becoming teachers or police officers.
The Department of Homeland Security criticized the measures, calling them discriminatory. Legal experts note the proposals may face constitutional challenges under federal supremacy principles.
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