The Immigrant Trust Tour: The Finale

Posted on by under activism, migrant defense

Since I last wrote on the subject, New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Act (ITA) has been divided into three separate bills, has gotten through a series of committee hearings, and is up for vote in the state legislature on Monday. It’s been sixteen solid months of efforts by a cohort of smart, tough, and dedicated activists. Win or lose, I’m proud to have played a bit part in this effort, and at this point can only urge New Jersey residents to call or text their legislators for the final push (see contact information below).

From The New Jersey Monitor, whose coverage (via Sophie Nieto-Munoz) has been consistently excellent:

A trio of bills targeting local cooperation with federal immigration agents and expanding protections for immigrants is expected to go before the full Legislature Monday after they advanced through two legislative committees Thursday.

The package of bills is being fast-tracked after a similar measure languished for more than a year. Senate President Nicholas Scutari told reporters that he plans to support them, though he worries about the proposals making New Jersey a target of the federal government.

“I fear for the people that are advocating for this getting what they ask for, and maybe it’s not exactly what they expect. I think it could have unintended consequences for lots of folks,” Scutari said Thursday ahead of the bills clearing committees.

You’ve got to love our Democratic leadership, personified here by Scutari: smug and self-righteous to the bitter end. There’s a reckoning we’re going to have to have with them under the incoming Sherrill administration, but for now I would simply advise Scutari et al to shut up for long enough to vote “yes” on all three bills. The hostility and apathy of many of the Democrats to migrant defense issues demands an explanation; I think I have one, and I doubt it’s going to be well received by loyal Democrats. I’m working on a post on that subject that should come out in a few weeks. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, the new bills are:

Legislators should be advised to vote “yes” on all three.

From Ellen Whitt of DIRE New Jersey (via Jenny Psaki of Indivisible Cranbury):

Hi Everyone, 
Thursday night the package of three bills limiting collaboration between NJ and ICE was passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Unfortunately, they amended the bill to allow law enforcement to turn over people who were accused but not convicted of certain crimes to ICE. Essentially the bill is virtually the same as the current Immigrant Trust Directive. We still think the three bills are critical to pass and we have a good shot. 
 
We are asking that we continue to call legislators – your own, Assembly Speaker Coughlin (732-855-7441) Senate President Scutari (732-827-7480) and Governor Murphy. The legislature should be voting on it Monday and then Governor Murphy needs to sign before he goes. NB: Calls to Governor Murphy’s Office (609-292-6000) or texts (732-605-5455) to the Governor’s office should encourage him to sign the bills as-is. Leave messages this weekend and call on Monday. You can join supporters in Trenton from 9:00 am Monday, January 12 until the vote. 
 
Also, in the past couple of days, ICE has murdered one activist and shot two immigrants. We, along with groups across the country, will be out in the streets this weekend to publicly condemn this rogue agency. Please join us this Sunday, January 11, 3:00 pm at Adelaide and Raritan Avenue in Highland Park for an ICE Out of NJ  March to Oaxaca Park in New Brunswick. Share with others! See details below. Let’s stand together against ICE violence and repression!
 
ICE OUT of NEW JERSEY. Join us for a march and rally calling for justice for Renee Good and all victims of ICE violence and repression. Sunday, January 11 at 3:00 PM. We will meet at Adelaide & Route 27 in Highland Park and march to Parque Oaxaca in New Brunswick, with a rally and vigil at the end. You can join at the start or anywhere along Route 27 as we march. Organized by Cosecha, New Labor, Esperanza Project, Semilla Roja, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), DIRE, Indivisible Highland Park, and Central Jersey Coalition Against Endl
It’s a busy time, so please do what you can at this critical moment. 
 
In solidarity, — 
Ellen
DIRE (Deportation, Immigration, Response Equipo)

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