The Collingswood Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution banning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering or using borough-owned property for enforcement, joining a growing list of towns that have taken similar steps.
The resolution, approved at the April 23 meeting, also prohibits municipal employees from using borough resources to aid ICE actions unless presented with a judicial warrant or court order.
“The Board of Commissioners is committed to ensuring that all residents can access Borough services and facilities without fear, and that Borough property and resources are used for the benefit of the communities they serve,” the resolution states.
The decision comes after the Camden County Board of Commissioners banned ICE agents to conduct operations on its property on April 16.
Borough-owned properties and facilities may not be used as staging areas, processing locations or operations bases, according to the resolution.
The resolution states borough employees will not be prevented from sharing information as required by law or responding to a criminal law enforcement matter.
Officials noted they had been working with staff for months on different versions of the policy.
Initially, the borough maintained a “heads down” approach, quietly distributing “know your rights” cards to business owners to avoid attracting unwanted attention to the small Camden County town, the mayor said.
However, Mayor Daniela Solano-Ward indicated during the meeting that it is now in a “very different environment” and the borough is being more public about these protections.
Residents suggested that the borough further publicize resources for those needing to know their rights in English and Spanish.
Officials did not include the resources in the resolution to avoid delaying its passage, but pointed to state-level pages as primary sources for the information.
Local organizations offered to share resource lists and provide “know your rights” training to help the borough implement the policy and reach residents who may be hesitant to seek help.
In February, Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed an executive order barring ICE agents from accessing non‑public areas of state property without a judicial warrant.
Other New Jersey counties, including Middlesex and Hudson, bar ICE from operating without a warrant in their buildings or properties.
Hoboken, Jersey City, Kearny, Newark, New Brunswick and North Bergen have taken similar steps to limit what they see as ICE overreach.
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