The Hoboken City Council will vote on a resolution later this week that would make them the first city in the state, and the fourth municipality overall, calling on U.S. Congress to reunite migrant families and afford them due process in immigration proceedings.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The resolution, sponsored by 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen and seconded by Councilwoman-at-Large Emily Jabbour, notes that their are more than 2,000 immigrants detained in New Jersey who cannot afford a lawyer.
Furthermore, the local legislation says that migrant families and children detained at the border face “unacceptable conditions” that includes being without adequate food, water, or “access to necessary hygiene and sanitary products.”
When reached over the phone, Cohen told HCV that while the council can’t have direct influence over federal policies and procedures, he still feels it’s important they have a voice.
“I believe the detainments are un-American: while we can’t directly influence the policy, we can certainly influence the conversation,” he began.
“It’s an important message that these are the values that the people of Hoboken believe. I’m proud that Hoboken’s on the forefront on this because there’s so much anti-immigration and anti-diversity rhetoric that’s not reflective of Hoboken, Hudson County, or this country.”
For the moment, the resolution is on the agenda for Wednesday’s regularly scheduled council meeting.
Late last year, the The House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties sent letters to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to begin an investigation into immigrant detainees’ medical care, The Hill reported.
Montgomery became the first municipality in New Jersey to pass a similar resolution on December 7th, with Bound Brook following shortly thereafter.
Furthermore, the Princeton City Council is currently scheduled to vote on their own measure pertaining to immigrant detainees on Tuesday.