Opinion: Honest Hope Over False Promises—What Our Immigrant Communities Deserve

By Sergio Rodriguez

In the last issue of DOVERNOW, an opinion piece was published advocating for the Immigrant Trust Act (ITA) as a way to protect immigrant communities in New Jersey. While I respect the advocacy and share the commitment to a more welcoming Dover, it’s important to have an honest conversation about what this policy actually does—and does not—provide.

The ITA is based on the 2019 Immigrant Trust Directive from the New Jersey Attorney General. It limits local and state law enforcement from inquiring about immigration status, from honoring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers without judicial warrants, or directly participating in federal immigration enforcement. However, it does not stop federal immigration officers from operating. Deportations and enforcement actions continue, with or without local involvement.

This is why clarity matters. When communities believe they are protected under local policy, but are still vulnerable to federal action, we risk causing more harm than good. The goal should not be to obscure or hide our immigrant neighbors from federal enforcement—it should be to empower them through real, long-term solutions.

That means pushing for legislation at the state and federal levels that expands access to legal residency, work authorization, and, when appropriate, a path to citizenship. These tools allow families to plan for the future, contribute openly, and live with dignity, not fear.

Most immigrants I’ve spoken to aren’t asking for shortcuts or special treatment. They want the chance to work, to raise their families, and to participate in their communities without the constant fear of being separated from their loved ones. That’s what we should all be working toward.

Hope is essential—but it must be honest. Let’s focus our energy on the kinds of reform that truly serve and uplift the people we’re trying to protect.

Sergio Rodriguez is a Dover Councilman (D-Ward 2). His opinion is his personal view.