New Jersey Immigrant Rights Advocates Celebrate Accomplishments for Immigrant Rights and Set Priorities for 2019 at NJ Immigrant Rights Summit

Attorney General Grewal offered keynote remarks on New Jersey state’s commitment to standing with immigrants including undocumented and DACA-recipients

Ewing, NJ -Tuesday, December 18th- The New Jersey Immigrant Alliance for Immigrant Justice (NJAIJ) hosted the 3rd annual NJ Immigrant Rights Summit at The College of New Jersey with more than 130 activists, advocates, impacted community members and allies coming together to convene on the most pressing issues to immigrant communities in the state and set campaign priorities for the next year.

Advocates celebrated financial aid for undocumented students, universal representation for immigrant detainees, the newly issued “Immigrant Trust” directive and new legislation introduced for expanding access to drivers licenses. Workshop topics included fair and welcoming New Jersey state policies, drivers licenses and the Let’s Drive NJ campaign, know your rights, serving immigrant communities, and community organizing, all led by Alliance members.

Attorney General Gubir S. Grewal offered remarks as the keynote speaker at the Summit. Grewal spoke to his office’s advocacy for humanity of immigrants in the Garden State and against Washington’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. These accomplishments include the recently issued “Immigrant Trust” directive which aims to limit law enforcement’s voluntary collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), challenging the Muslim ban, fights for rights of asylum seekers and migrants, fighting the addition of citizenship question to census, pushing back against ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and fighting attacks on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. Grewal committed to continue to challenge Washington’s inhumane policies.

The Alliance members voted on campaign priorities for 2019 which included continuing to prioritize the Let’s Drive NJ and the Fair and Welcoming State policies campaign, and strongly support the Health Care for All campaign that will be coordinated by healthcare advocates.

“It is always exciting to see the vibrant debate and discussion that occurs when our members come together annually on issues we fight for everyday,” said Johanna Cale, director of New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. “The accomplishments of the Alliance are a direct reflection on the contributions of our members, without whom we could not do this work. We look forward to hitting the ground running on our priorities for next year.”

“This year marked an incredible year working with NJ Alliance for Immigrant Justice and its core members. Drivers license is moving forward after being stalled for a long time and a groundbreaking Attorney General’s directive was released to better protect immigrant communities,” said Chia-Chia Wang, director of organizing and advocacy, American Friends Service Committee–Immigrant Rights Program. “Despite the horrific immigration policies and anti-immigrant rhetoric from Washington, New Jersey can be leading the way in protecting immigrants on the national level.

“From winning one of the most progressive policies to ensure our local law police and prosecutors do not use our taxpayer dollars to aid deportations to bringing the fight to expand access to drivers licenses to the statehouse, the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice has made great strides to making New Jersey a more fair and welcoming state for all,” said Sara Cullinane, co-chair of NJAIJ Executive Committee and director of Make the Road New Jersey (MRNJ)

“The Summit provides an opportunity for immigrant serving organizations, advocates, and allies throughout the state to connect in person. With pressing needs ever present for direct service and advocacy, it can be difficult to find time to celebrate successes. This year with the passing of in-state tuition assistance, a new Immigrant Trust directive from Attorney General Grewal, and the introduction of Bill A4743 for the expansion of drivers licenses we have much to celebrate. There is still so much to do and I’m excited for the collective to continue fighting for immigrant’s rights in 2019,” said Adriana Abizadeh, co-chair-elect of NJAIJ’s Executive Committee and Executive Director of Latino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF).

“The New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice plays an important role in networking various providers in New Jersey in the fight for immigrant rights. The work KIND does in New Jersey for unaccompanied children and separated families is supported by our ability to connect with the other members of the Alliance. We look forward to continuing our efforts next year here in New Jersey,” said Carrey Wong, Managing Attorney, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).

“One of the things members of Unitarian Universalist Faith in Action NJ appreciate most about the Alliance is its ability to connect impacted community members (immigrants) with those of us who are deeply troubled by the current atmosphere that too often stokes fear among some native-born persons. Through the Alliance, we can build partnerships and coalitions that challenge the fear-mongering and offer practical and helpful policies to make our state better for all of us, immigrants and native-born,” said Rob Gregson and Ted Fetter with Unitarian Universalist Faith in Action New Jersey.

The New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice is a statewide coalition of faith, labor and community organizations that promote policies in New Jersey to support immigrants to become rooted economically, politically and socially within the state.

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NJAIJ members include:

1199SEIU | 32BJ SEIU | American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey | American Friends Service Committee-Immigrant Rights Program | Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey | Bangladeshi American Women’s Development Initiative | Beacon – Unitarian Universalist Church in Summit | Casa Freehold | Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen | Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton | Central Unitarian Church of Paramus – Social Action Committee | Centro Comunitario CEUS | Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War | Community of Friends in Action | Drug Policy Alliance | Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County | El Centro Hispanoamericano | Faith in New Jersey | First Friends NJ & NY | Haiti Solidarity Network of the North East | Hispanic Family Center of Southern New Jersey | Hudson Civic Action | Ironbound Community Corporation | Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) | Latino Action Network | Latin American Legal Defense & Education Fund (LALDEF) | Make the Road New Jersey | National Association of Social Workers – NJ | New Jersey Citizen Action | New Jersey Communities United | New Jersey Institute for Social Justice | New Jersey Policy Perspective | New Labor | New Jersey Working Families | OASIS | Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, Inc. | Unitarian Universalist Faith in Action | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton | Unitarian Society of Ridgewood | Wind of the Spirit, Immigrant Resource Center