The Kearny Town Council and Mayor Carol Jean Doyle recently approved resolutions banning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on municipal property, and another calling for the restoration of Gateway funding by President Donald Trump (R).
By Dan Israel/Hudson County View
On Tuesday, Doyle and the governing body unanimously approved (9-0) a resolution “prohibiting the use of Town resources, personnel, and facilities for federal civil immigration enforcement.”
According to the resolution, the Town of Kearny affirms that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers will not be permitted to enter or conduct civil immigration enforcement activities within any municipal owned, leased, or operated building, facility, or property, including parking areas.
The only caveat is if the action is required by law or pursuant to a valid judicial warrant or court order, making the measure virtually identical to what was approved by the Hudson County Board of Commissioners.
It is also similar to the executive orders signed by Jersey City Mayor James Solomon and Hudson County Executive Craig Guy.
The county also recently established the Safe Communities Committee to develop policies and protocols regarding federal immigration practices, ensuring that all county offices operate with a unified approach to community outreach and information sharing.
1st Ward Councilman George Zapata said he’s been speaking with activist groups like Make the Road NJ and others to put together “Know Your Rights” and legal observer-style training sessions in person and virtually.
He added that he will share the details through the town’s website and Public Information Officer (PIO) once things are finalized.
Additionally, the councilman said that there’s a group based out of a local church that conducts weekly check-ins on detainees from West Hudson imprisoned in Delaney Hall.
“One of the things that they brought up was the fact that they’ve been putting together little care packages for the detainees, given the lack of resources they’re given while they’re detained and waiting for further action at Delaney Hall,” noted Zapata.
He also said he recently obtained a list of supplies needed by those detainees and will include those details along with the other information regarding the future information sessions when he releases it.
“We all have to be proactive knowing what’s going on at the federal level, the immense scare tactics and fear that our community has been plagued with as the result of the increase in ICE presence,” he exclaimed.
” … Not just in Kearny, but all across Hudson County and the impact its had on families here who unfortunately have family that have been sent to Delaney Hall or other ICE facilities in New Jersey, even down south of us. It’s deplorable.”
Doyle said there are other meetings set to take place at the library regarding ICE and directed Zapata to collaborate with them on the matter.
The council also unanimously approved (9-0) a resolution in support of the Gateway project, also following a similar move by the county commissioners.
