A state’s budget is a list of its most pressing priorities. In the face of federal attacks, our state must do all it can to push equity and justice forward. Here is what the ACLU of New Jersey is urging state leaders to include in New Jersey’s FY26 budget.
Strengthening Immigrants’ Rights by Ensuring Legal Representation
New Jersey’s system of legal representation for detained immigrants facing deportation is one of the most vital programs in our state. The Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative has provided legal representation to hundreds of low-income detained people who are routinely denied access to due process within the federal immigration system, where people in deportation proceedings are not guaranteed an attorney. In the program’s first year, people represented through the program were three times more likely to win release than those without representation. Given federal plans to drastically increase immigration detention across the country – including the high likelihood of a new 600+ bed facility in Newark, NJ – the need for legal representation is only increasing.
For FY26, the ACLU-NJ is calling for $19.5 million to provide legal representation to immigrants facing detention and deportation.
Expanding Language Access
New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the country. With immigrants representing 23 percent of our population, immigrant communities are an integral part of our state’s civic, economic, and cultural strength and continued growth.
In our state, access to information in a multitude of languages is a vital necessity, and expansion of language access is overdue. Our budget must allocate necessary funding to implement the legislation enacted in 2024 requiring state government entities to provide culturally competent language access services as a step toward a more inclusive, welcoming, and equitable New Jersey.
For FY26, the ACLU-NJ is calling for $3 million to support language access implementation.
Ensuring Reinvestment of Cannabis Revenue in Communities Harmed by the Drug War
New Jersey legalized cannabis with the promise of investing almost 60 percent of all cannabis sales tax revenue and 100 percent of the Social Equity Excise Fee in communities most harmed by the criminalization of marijuana. As those funds continue to accumulate, state leaders must meaningfully include New Jerseyans in the decision-making process so that communities can decide how the revenue should be allocated to best prioritize their needs. Community reinvestment was a central promise of the fight for marijuana legalization in New Jersey, and lawmakers must ensure that reinvestment is responsive to community priorities.
For FY26, the ACLU-NJ and partners are asking for more transparency and accountability in the budget process, including more opportunities for community input and a public tracker that shows how funds are allocated. In addition, we want to ensure that this revenue is not used to fund the criminal legal system. Instead, it should be used to fund community resources, like housing, education, and harm reduction programs.
Take Action for a Budget that Reflects Our Values
Contact your lawmakers today and tell them to build a budget that embodies liberty and justice for all.
