Jackson Township Mayor Jennifer Kuhn has called for the repeal of New Jersey's sanctuary policies following a fatal crash that resulted in the death of a 9-month-old boy. Authorities allege an undocumented immigrant was driving the vehicle that struck the child's family in a grocery store parking lot.
"If our police pull somebody over and they're undocumented... they can't call the federal agencies, they can't call ICE. That needs to change," Kuhn stated in a recent interview. "Condolences at this point are not enough. At this point, leadership needs to step in. And we have to do something."
According to authorities, Maria Cobon-Guzman, a Guatemalan national without a driver's license, crashed into a mother pushing a stroller with her infant son and 5-year-old daughter on August 28 in Jackson. The infant died from his injuries, while the mother and the older child sustained critical injuries.
Kuhn argued that the incident highlights the necessity of dismantling New Jersey's policies that restrict cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Cobon-Guzman, 20, has been charged with manslaughter. Ariadna Lazaro-Flores was also charged, accused of allowing Cobon-Guzman to drive despite knowing she lacked a license. Lazaro-Flores, an immigrant from Mexico, faces a charge of endangering the welfare of an incompetent person.
Both women are reported to have entered the U.S. during the current administration. The Department of Homeland Security stated that Lazaro-Flores entered the U.S. five times in October 2023 and was removed each time. Cobon-Guzman entered once in October 2023 and was released without vetting, with an immigration judge issuing a removal order against her on July 31.
The policy at the center of Kuhn's criticism is New Jersey's Immigrant Trust Directive, established in 2018. The directive generally prevents police from inquiring about immigration status, notifying federal immigration agencies upon an individual's release from custody, or sharing personal information for civil immigration enforcement purposes. Current Governor Mikie Sherrill signed legislation codifying this directive into state law in March and issued an executive order in February restricting ICE agents' use of nonpublic state property for operations without a judicial warrant.
Kuhn intends to push for a resolution from the Jackson Township Council demanding the termination of these state-level policies. She indicated that other municipalities are considering similar actions.
Supporters of the Immigrant Trust Directive argue that it fosters trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, encouraging crime reporting without fear of immigration consequences. A spokesperson for the New Jersey Attorney General's Office defended the policy, stating that county jails and state prisons can still notify ICE about individuals charged with or convicted of certain serious crimes, or those under a final deportation order. Such notifications have been consistently provided in appropriate cases since the directive took effect in 2019.