Two individuals were detained Monday morning during a federal immigration operation in Hopewell Borough, according to a statement from the Hopewell Township Police Department, which said it was not involved in the activity and had not been asked to participate.
The department said it was notified around 8:30 a.m. that federal immigration officers were conducting “targeted activity” near the border of Hopewell Township and Hopewell Borough. Later information revealed that a vehicle had been stopped in Hopewell Borough and two people were detained. The identities of the individuals and details about the operation have not been released.
“This was a federal immigration operation and no other information is available,” the department said in its statement.
Hopewell Township police emphasized that they operate in accordance with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Immigration Trust Directive, which limits how local law enforcement agencies can interact with federal immigration authorities. The directive prohibits officers from participating in civil immigration enforcement, questioning individuals solely about immigration status, or continuing detention beyond release eligibility based on federal immigration requests — unless specific legal criteria are met.
The directive, issued statewide in 2018 and adopted by the Hopewell Township Police Department in 2019, aims to build trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. Under the policy, local police may assist federal immigration authorities only if acting under a judicial warrant, addressing a violent or serious criminal offense, or responding to an emergency involving public safety.
State and federal resources emphasize that all individuals — regardless of immigration status — have constitutional rights during encounters with law enforcement. These include the right to remain silent, the right to refuse consent to searches, and the right to consult with an attorney.
The New Jersey Office of New Americans, the ACLU of New Jersey, and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman have published guidance to help residents understand these rights and prepare for encounters with federal immigration officers.
