New Jersey is home to over 2 million immigrants, but far too many residents and their families live in fear that a routine interaction with law enforcement will result in separation from their loved ones and deportation. Unfortunately, a primary pathway for individuals ending up in immigration custody is from state and local criminal custody. Our immigrant community members should not fear accessing basic services, like making a trip to the emergency room, reporting an incident to local officials, or even dropping off their children at school.
The Values Act builds a more welcoming New Jersey by establishing critical protections that would allow immigrant community members to access the programs and services they need without fear of involvement from federal immigration authorities.
The Values Act:
Tell your state lawmakers that we have work to do to build a truly welcoming state for all people – regardless of immigration status. It's past time for New Jersey to pass the Values Act and end its participation in the federal detention and deportation machine.