Jersey City Mayor James Solomon and Ward E Councilwoman Eleana Little pledged to protect all Jersey City residents in light of recent raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a Know Your Rights training at Grace Van Vorst Church.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
The event was organized by Little, the Spirit of Liberation (SOL), and Make the Road NJ after ICE arrested 10 people in the Heights on Sunday, as HCV exclusively reported.
“We are committed to protecting every resident of Jersey City,” Solomon began, reminding those in attendance that he issued an executive order preventing Jersey City personnel or property being used in ICE actions unless presented with signed judicial warrants.
“We will use every tool … to fight back and keep people safe, we will do all we can to protect our neighbors.”
Jessica Taub, of Make the Road NJ, explained that two of the three Immigrant Trust Act bill were pocket vetoed by then-Gov. Phil Murphy (D) on his way out of office. However, previous policies by Murphy deemed New Jersey a sanctuary state.
“We’re not going to survive this if we don’t organize: We have to build power,” she declared.
Taub also wanted people to demand the New Jersey Investment Pension Fund divest from the surveillance corporation Palantir, which is owned by billionaire Peter Thiel.
“Unless we are native to this land … we all originated somewhere else. If you’ve been here less than two years, they can remove you without due process,” Taub argued, also stating that there are about 500,00 undocumented people in New Jersey.
Thus, she said everyone should carry documents – such a driver’s license, green card, municipal ID, or even a library card – that prove how long they’ve been in this country, along with emergency phone numbers.
Taub noted everyone in the U.S. has the Constitutional right to remain silent, an attorney, and the right to refuse a warrantless search.
“Everybody standing on this soil has these rights … Don’t run and don’t have false documents,” she exclaimed, adding that ICE cannot enter a school without a judicial warrant.
Additionally, Taub said the Rutgers University immigrants rights clinic, Seton Hall Law clinic, and the American Friends Service Committee can help.
On that point, a representative of Van Vorst Church said they would protect all who seek sanctuary in their house of worship.
Activist Dana Patton, of SOL, explained ICE is under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, along with U.S. Customs and the Border Patrol and Citizenship and Immigration Services, and they work together.
“They don’t have any kind of badge. They don’t identify themselves,” she stated, further stating that they try to trick people into leaving privates spaces and routinely try to use administrative warrants.
“It has no judicial bearing … Do not open the door. Ask for a judicial warrant. Do not share immigration status … Do not sign anything,” she exclaimed, adding that all interactions with ICE should be recorded.
Patton encouraged people to sign up to be a Rapid Responder, as well as to wear masks to avoid be identified on camera.
“It’s really important to document that people’s rights are being violated … kidnapped off the streets,” she continued, reiterating that people must ask for names, badge numbers, and judicial warrants, which she reiterated in Spanish.
She encouraged people to use whistles when they’re around.
“You shouldn’t resist physically. You could get really hurt. You could say I don’t consent. I have a right to remain silent,” Taub interjected, while Patton noted speaking Spanish has been used as “reasonable suspicion” to detain immigrants with no records.
Someone from the crowd shouted that overstaying a visa is not a criminal offense.
“Sometimes they haven’t done anything. Sometimes that does happen,” Patton responded, noting that many immigrants are being taken after arriving at immigration court-related appointments.
“What we’re seeing is the rise of fascism and people being disappeared … and we’re not okay with that.”