| Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered Act | |
|---|---|
 | |
| New Jersey State Legislature | |
| Full name | Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered Act |
| Acronym | F--K ICE Act |
| Introduced | February 19, 2026 |
| Sponsor(s) | Ravinder Bhalla, Katie Brennan |
| Bill | A4446 |
| Website | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A4446 |
Status: Current legislation (Introduced in Assembly) | |
The Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered (FUCK ICE) Act, also known by the deliberately censored acronym F--K ICE Act, is a proposed piece of legislation in the state of New Jersey, United States, by the New Jersey General Assembly (A4446). Introduced in February 2026, the bill seeks to expand New Jersey residents' rights to pursue civil litigation against federal immigration officials for alleged unconstitutional conduct.[1] The legislation was introduced as part of a broader package of bills aimed at increasing state-level protections for immigrants following a series of high-profile enforcement actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Hudson County.[2] The New York Times described the "blunt acronym" as having been meant to send "a dose of in-your-face Jersey attitude".[3]
Background
The introduction of the F--K ICE Act followed reports of ICE operations at a light rail station on the border of Hoboken and Jersey City in early February 2026. Local officials and community members alleged that federal agents conducted warrantless searches and detained individuals without proper identification, leading to calls for increased accountability.[3]
The bill's sponsors, newly elected Democratic Party Assemblymembers Ravinder Bhalla (Hoboken) and Katie Brennan (Jersey City), representatives of the state's 32nd legislative district, stated that the legislation is intended to provide a legal remedy for residents whose constitutional rights are violated during federal immigration enforcement activities.[4]
Provisions
The act includes several key provisions:
- Civil liability: It permits individuals to file civil lawsuits in state court against federal officers for violations of the U.S. Constitution occurring during immigration-related activities.
- Accountability standards: The act seeks to define "unlawful conduct" in the context of state-recognized rights, focusing on search and seizure protections.
- Integration with state law: It functions alongside other proposed measures, such as a 50% tax on private detention facilities and a ban on former ICE agents holding certain public employment positions in New Jersey.[5]
Reception
The bill received media attention largely due to its colorful acronym, which was widely interpreted as a coded message of opposition toward U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.[6] Supporters argue the bill is a necessary check on federal overreach and essential for maintaining community trust in local law enforcement. Critics have questioned the constitutionality of a state law allowing civil suits against federal agents, citing the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.[7]
See also
References
- Independent. "Democratic lawmakers in New Jersey use blunt acronym to name anti-ICE legislation". The Independent. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- New Jersey Monitor. "NJ bills immigration protections ICE". New Jersey Monitor. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- Tully, Tracey. "New Jersey Democrats ICE Laws". The New York Times. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- Assembly Democrats. "After ICE Raid at Light Rail Station, New Jersey Lawmakers Introduce Bill Package to Combat ICE". New Jersey Assembly Democrats. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- Newsweek. "Democrats introduce F-ICE Act". Newsweek. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- People. "New Jersey Proposes Anti-ICE Act with a Coded Message". People. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- "LegiScan - NJ A4446". LegiScan. Retrieved February 24, 2026.