Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey Announces Support for Relief for Excluded Immigrant Workers

Earlier today, representatives from the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey joined immigrant essential workers, who are on Day 8 of the “Fast for Relief” hunger strike

(Newark, NJ – April 14, 2021): Today, the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey announces their support for the “Recovery for All” campaign and urges Gov. Murphy and the state legislature to provide aid to the state’s half-million undocumented immigrants and their families.

Earlier today, representatives from the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey joined immigrant essential workers, who are on Day 8 of the “Fast for Relief” hunger strike, at a rally at an immigrant-run small business in Newark, NJ. They call on the Governor and legislature to create a fund to provide $600 weekly payments to workers left behind from aid and stimulus-like payments to immigrants left behind from relief.

Luis De La Hoz, Chairman of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of NJ, said “Immigrants are an important engine for our economy in the Garden State. We account for 50% of all main street businesses. There are over 120,000 Latino-owned businesses that contribute $20 billion annually to New Jersey’s economy. When the backbone of our economy suffers, we all lose. Gov. Murphy must step up to provide aid to excluded immigrant workers, business owners, and their families so we can all survive the pandemic.”

Hilda Mera, immigrant small business owner, Chamber member of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of NJ, and member of Make the Road New Jersey said “For more than one year, we have been excluded from any form of aid, despite the contributions we have paid to our state’s economy. I’m calling on Governor Murphy and our state legislature to provide economic relief. Not just for small businesses but also for essential immigrant workers who have been the backbone of keeping our state open during the pandemic.”

Despite significant unexpected revenue, immigrant workers and others left behind from relief, have not received a penny in unemployment or stimulus, despite contributing more than $1 billion to the UI system over the past ten years and $1.6 billion annually in federal, state, and local taxes.

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Make the Road NJ
http://www.maketheroadnj.org/