Township government

Federal immigration enforcement on township property

On February 24, 2026 the Council adopted Resolution 26-112, 8–0, barring the federal government from using non-public township property for civil immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant or order. In December 2025 it had adopted Res. 25-511, 7–0, supporting the proposed New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act.

Checked against the primary record on . Every figure on this page is sourced at the foot of the article.

Resolution 26-112 adopted February 24, 2026, 8–0 Last moved

What happens next

No Council item on immigration is pending. Residents can speak in Public Discussion at the Township Council's meetings on November 10, November 24 and December 8, 2026, 7:00 p.m., 475 DeMott Lane.

The measure is a resolution, Res. 26-112, “Barring the Federal Government from Using Township-Owned and Township-Controlled Land, Property Spaces, Facilities, Equipment and Resources for Federal Civil Immigration Enforcement.” The Council amended it and then adopted it as amended on February 24, 2026, 8–0, with Ms. Francois absent. Except under a judicial warrant or judicial order, township departments “shall not permit or consent to” federal immigration officers entering non-public areas of township property, or using township property as “a staging area, processing location, or operations base,” for civil immigration enforcement. Criminal-law enforcement, joint task forces allowed under the Attorney General’s Immigrant Trust Directive (2018-6), and public access to public areas are not affected. No member of the public spoke on it that night.

It followed Res. 25-511 of December 9, 2025, adopted 7–0 on the consent agenda after residents asked for it in November. That resolution supports the proposed New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act (S3672/A4987), which it describes as codifying “the existing Immigrant Trust Directive into permanent law.” The Township Manager said it “only expresses the Council’s support for pending legislation and does not change local laws.”

Immigration also came up in the license-plate camera discussion: township staff said New Jersey law prohibits sharing plate-reader data for civil immigration enforcement, and the police transparency portal lists “Immigration enforcement” as a prohibited use. See license-plate cameras.

Residents can read both resolutions in the Council minutes and speak at Council meetings.

The immigration enforcement resolution, explained

Timeline

Each dated event on this issue, oldest first, linked to the full sourced entry.

  1. Resolved Residents ask the Council to back the Immigrant Trust ActKathryn Hahn, Tony Favour, Javahn Walker and a fourth resident asked the Council for a resolution supporting the Immigrant Trust Act pending in Trenton. The Mayor said it was not on the agenda and he would discuss it with counsel; Ms. Francois proposed adopting one at the next meeting.
  2. Resolved Council backs the proposed Immigrant Trust Act, 7–0 (Res. 25-511)On the consent agenda, 7–0, the Council adopted Res. 25-511 supporting the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act (S3672/A4987). The Township Manager said it "only expresses the Council's support for pending legislation and does not change local laws."
  3. Resolved Council bars civil immigration enforcement use of township property, 8–0 (Res. 26-112)The Council amended and adopted Res. 26-112, 8–0. Without a judicial warrant or order, township departments may not let federal officers use non-public township property for civil immigration enforcement, including as "a staging area, processing location, or operations base."
  4. Active Flock system presented to the Council; 22 of 25 speakers address the camerasPublic Safety Director Lloyd Fredericks and Flock representative Carl Block presented the plate-reader system. In Public Discussion, 22 of 25 speakers addressed it, none recorded in support; requests included cancelling the contract, a referendum and independent oversight.

Explainers

  • Franklin's Resolution on Immigration Enforcement, Explained

    What Resolution 26-112 of February 24, 2026 bars and what it leaves in place; the December 2025 resolution supporting the Immigrant Trust Act; what residents and the Township Manager said; the votes; how immigration came up in the license-plate camera debate; and what is still not known.

Documents

The township's own records on this issue. Each links to the official copy.

Meetings

  • Township Council — February 24, 2026

    The Council adopted Res. #26-112, barring federal civil immigration enforcement from using Township-owned property without a judicial warrant or order, as amended, 8-0. It adopted the Chapter 81 affordable housing ordinance and the Castleton Park easement, the Hamilton Street SID budget and assessment roll, and a $450,000 snow-plowing contract amendment, and met in closed session on possible open-space purchases.

  • Township Council — December 9, 2025

    On a 7-0 consent agenda the Council adopted Res. #25-511 supporting the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act, asked the Franklin Township Sewerage Authority to transfer $100,000 to the Township budget, and set the 2026 budget hearings as remote meetings. A resident urged quick adoption of a new B-I zoning ordinance to limit warehouses.

  • Township Council — November 25, 2025

    With five of nine members present, the Council adopted three ordinances, including the vacation of part of Executive Drive, and a consent agenda that set the 2026 meeting schedule and renewed the Township's farmland preservation participation, each 5-0. Several residents asked the Council to support the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act.

  • Township Council — November 10, 2025

    With all nine members present, the Council's 9-0 consent agenda included an Axon "ALPR License and Integration" state contract of up to $37,800, the CY2024 audit and its corrective action plan, and two stormwater maintenance agreements. It introduced a Brookline Avenue parking ordinance and a pump-station easement. A resident raised the NESE project's air permit.

Sources for this overview

  1. Township Council minutes, February 24, 2026 (Res. 26-112, as amended)
  2. Township Council agenda, February 24, 2026
  3. Township Council minutes, December 9, 2025 (Res. 25-511)
  4. Township Council minutes, November 25, 2025 (residents ask for a resolution)
  5. Township Council minutes, August 11, 2026 (ALPR data and civil immigration enforcement)
  6. Franklin Township Police Department, Flock transparency portal (prohibited uses)
All issues The full timeline