Immigrant Groups, Constituents Take Over Offices of Members of NJ Congressional Delegation Over DHS Spending Bill this Congressional Recess

Votes by 9 members of NJ Congressional Delegation to Increase DHS and Immigration Spending to $4.6 Billion in the Midst of Border Humanitarian Crisis and Threats of Raids Anger Constituents

(New Jersey) July 3, 2019: As President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security wage war on immigrant communities, New Jersey immigrant organizations and allies are calling on Congress to defund ICE and CBP in a series of actions over the July 4th congressional recess. In the past year, more children have died in immigration custody than ever before. Children are being kept in camps on the border, in inhumane conditions. The Trump administration has threatened raids over the July 4th holiday to deport thousands of immigrants. This crisis escalates as the Senate and House of Representatives each passed more than $4 billion in spending for immigration last week. All U.S. House of Representatives members from the New Jersey delegation except for Norcross, Pallone and Pascrell voted to approve the final spending bill, which did not include provisions to ensure safety of detainees at the border.

On Tuesday July 2nd, scores of immigrant families and constituents held rallies at the offices of Rep Donald Payne and Rep Tom Malinowski, chanting “Close the Camps” and “Defund Hate.” The protestors read out the names of the children who have died in ICE and CBP custody over the past year. See video for action in Congressman Malinowski’s office here and in Congressman Payne’s office here

Immigrant organizations and allies including: Make the Road New Jersey, Wind of the Spirit, American Friends Service Committee and other organizations held actions at Rep Sires and Smith’s offices on Friday June 28th.  At U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer’s townhall on June 29th, immigrant advocates protested the event and confronted Congressman Gottheimer directly over his role in coordinating Blue Dog democrats to support the Senate appropriations bill, which gives billions to immigration and enforcement and does not provide humanitarian aid of the House bill. **Video of constituents confronting Gottheimer over his role is available here.**