Hundreds Pack Princeton Council Meeting Urging Action After ICE Raid Detains 15 Workers
PRINCETON, NJ - Hundreds of people packed Monday night's Council meeting, urging local lawmakers to take steps to protect the local immigrant community, after a recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid saw 15 immigrant workers detained. Several families who had members detained by ICE chose not to attend the meeting for fear of being detained. But their voices were uplifted by neighbors and friends, who urged the council to pass a resolution supporting the Immigrant Trust Act (ITA), a state-level proposal that has gained backing from 13 other New Jersey municipalities. An immigrant worker's family, who hasn’t heard from him after he was detained, said they feared for his safety. “We know absolutely nothing about the way he is being treated or where he's at. We do not even know if he's being fed. We have heard countless stories of inhuman treatment in detention centers,” a neighbor told Council on behalf of the family. “The uncertainty is torture for us, and we do not even know how we will pay rent for this month without my uncle's financial support.” Council president Mia Sacks then urged the family to reach out to Princeton Human Services for financial and legal assistance. Ali Azhar, representing a Muslim American political advocacy organization, called on the Council to "stand unequivocally with your immigrant neighbors and constituents" by passing the ITA resolution. "Passing the resolution would mean standing with a larger immigrant community, making sure that Princeton is a safe haven for everyone, and resisting the escalating fascism that we are seeing from the federal government," Azhar said. Rev. Erich Kussman of St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church drew historical parallels in his passionate plea for action, revealing that he rings his church bell 15 times to warn neighbors when ICE arrives in the area. "Lutheran churches in World War II Nazi Germany, when the SS came to arrest the Jews, the churches rang their bells to warn people," Rev. Kussman said. "I will continue to come here every meeting you have, and let you know that you're wrong. Stand on the side of humanity and stand on the side of justice. Stop dragging your feet." Prior to Monday's meeting, the Council released a statement expressing concern about the events and outlining their support for affected families. Municipal staff have contacted relevant consulates, employers, and community members to identify detained individuals and have connected at least one impacted family with legal and financial resources. Regarding the ITA resolution, Council members indicated they have supported the Act since its introduction and plan to formally demonstrate that support to the legislature "in a way and at a time that will be most effective." “Mayor and Council support legislation and concrete action proposed by the state legislature and by federal representatives that would meaningfully protect our immigrant community. We ask our state and federal representatives to work together with us to ensure that fundamental constitutional protections of due process and equal protection embodied in our Constitution and Bill of Rights apply to every person, regardless of immigration status,” the statement said. “Behind every immigration policy, every statistic, and every debate, are people with full lives, skills, and relationships that enrich Princeton and our nation. While opinions may differ on immigration processes and enforcement, we must always remember the humanity at the heart of this issue. Our commitment is to lead with empathy, to act with integrity, and to champion the dignity and rights of every member of our community.” You can read the full statement by the Municipal council here. Last Thursday 15 people were detained by ICE in Princeton as they were headed to work at a local landscaping company. Some family members still do not know of their whereabouts. Municipal authorities and the Police Department said they had no prior information about their presence or actions. The local police department did not participate in federal immigration enforcement either, officials said. While the U.S. Customs and Border Protection is not required to notify local officials, they sometimes do as a courtesy. Have a correction or news tip? Email [email protected] The article Hundreds Pack Princeton Council Meeting Urging Action After ICE Raid Detains 15 Workers appeared first on Princeton, NJ Patch.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings