BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is blasting a Burlington County public library for distributing cards advising individuals on their rights when confronted by immigration enforcement agents.
Ciattarelli, a Republican who ran against Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021, and now running again, took to social media to express outrage over the cards, which instruct recipients not to open their doors for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), refuse to answer questions, and avoid signing documents without consulting a lawyer.
“Why are public libraries (this one in Burlington County) handing out cards instructing people to resist ICE and refuse cooperation with federal immigration officials?” Ciattarelli wrote in a post. “Who’s paying to print them? Who instructed staff to distribute them? This is outrageous and needs to end immediately. It certainly will when I’m Governor.”
The cards, printed in bold text, outline constitutional rights for individuals confronted by immigration agents, including the right to remain silent and the ability to request legal representation before signing any documents. The final instruction tells individuals to “GIVE THIS CARD TO THE AGENT” rather than verbally engaging with officers.
Ciattarelli’s criticism comes amid ongoing national debates over immigration enforcement policies and sanctuary city protections. The Burlington County library system has not yet commented on the matter or clarified whether it officially sanctioned the distribution of these materials.
Key Points
- Jack Ciattarelli criticized a Burlington County library for handing out “know your rights” cards related to immigration enforcement.
- The cards advise individuals to not open their doors, remain silent, and refuse to sign documents without a lawyer.
- The Burlington County library system has not responded to Ciattarelli’s concerns.