Immigrant Justice – Help From Home!
Our immigrant friends and neighbors are hurting. The Covid-19 virus deeply affects
this community be they in ICE detention, facing devastating job losses or
simply being especially fearful to come out of the shadows. They need our help.
Our Friday USR Zoom for Justice attendees suggest three actions:
1: Sign, scan and email or simply print and mail the attached letter concerning
the health and safety of ICE detainees held at the Bergen County Jail. To advocate
for the health and safety of people who have no power to control their own
care epitomizes our belief in the inherent worth and dignity of all people. You
may email the letter to dsands@bcsd.us or mail to Derek Sands, Chief of Staff 2
Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ 07601
2: ICE detainees face many obstacle at the
Bergen County Jail. A pressing need is for commissary funds. Everything from
phone calls to family to video conferencing with their lawyers costs money, and
the prices are notoriously high. There are no visitors allowed in the jail and these
contacts are vital. Please support the First Friends Commissary Fund drive on
Go Fund Me.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/commissary-funds-for-ice-detainees-in-njcommissary
3: COFIA (Community of Friends in Action)
Please support this grass roots local Bergen County group that has had a long affiliation with USR. COFIA helps immigrants in many ways but the current pandemic has exacerbated the need – and limited the supply! Many of their clients are not documented and will not have access to health care, unemployment insurance or even the minimal funds being sent to US citizens. Many live paycheck to paycheck and have lost their jobs. Please consider a donation to the COFIA Pandemic appeal.
If you have questions about the letter or websites contact Marilyn Maney.
With the push by this administration to round up immigrants…you can help them by ordering “Know-Your-Rights cards and distributing them to anyone you think may benefit. Many people keep them in their cars and hand them out, as appropriate, to gas station attendants, landscapers, etc. You can download the card information from this website: www.njimmigrantjustice.org.
The NJAIJ has created Know-Your-Rights cards for community members. If you would like to place an order to have printed cards shipped to you, please email dmansour@njimmigrantjustice.org with your request; total number of cards, languages, address, etc. Please note that printed cards come at a cost to non-members. Cost information is available below:
Cards come in packs of 50:
One pack = $10
100 = $15
200 = $30
300 = $45
(And so forth; i.e. every additional 100 are $15 extra).
Additional fees for postage will be applied based on the quantity of your order.
Our members have cards available at their events, but if an event is not happening near you, don’t forget to carry a card with you. You can download the cards in eleven languages here:
English, Spanish, Portuguese, Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati, Arabic, Tagalog, French, French Creole, Korean
