The three immigrant protection bills just signed into law will have real, immediate impact on the safety of our loved ones, including AAPI immigrant communities, and the security of all who work, live in, and call New Jersey home. These laws will protect privacy, strengthen the ability for immigrants to access critical services and report crimes to law enforcement, and restrict immigration authorities from concealing their identities. We thank the Legislature for advancing these bills and Governor Sherrill for signing them into law. While there is still work to be done, New Jersey has now laid a strong foundation for building up immigrant rights policy that reflects the fair and welcoming spirit of our state.
Too many have been harmed by this federal administration’s racist weaponization of immigration enforcement. From Jersey City to Palisades Park to Edison and beyond, we have seen first-hand how ICE’s abuses poison the daily life of our community members, as Latinx communities are heavily targeted and Asian Americans struggle to support family in detention, fear leaving their homes, or put off travel to see dying loved ones out of concern they will be flagged by TSA. Our destinies are closely knit, and so must be our fight for a more inclusive, just society that centers all of our humanity. The history of this legislation is also a story of how people of all backgrounds, building bridges across divides, can overcome indifference and opposition to win real change.
As a proud member of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, our state’s largest immigrant rights coalition, AAPI NJ is deeply grateful for the leadership of NJAIJ and the courageous advocates in our multiracial movement who spent years putting in the work that made this victory possible. We are equally inspired by the countless community members who raised their voices in this campaign over the years, from the youth who walked the statehouse halls with us, to the educators who spoke up for the students they love and selflessly serve, to the busy professionals who gave up their lunch breaks to call their legislators with us. This is a victory for each and every one of you who took action with us. We are witnessing your power.
Even with these three major wins, there is still much to be fought for, including full due process for people with “final orders of removal” and those impacted by the criminal justice system–all the more urgent as our state is threatened with new for-profit detention centers. AAPI NJ commits to working alongside our allies to secure equal protection under the law for everyone in our state. As our Filipino brothers and sisters say: Tuloy ang laban. The fight continues.
