Immigration Justice Action Team
The Immigration Justice team is primarily advocacy oriented and coordinated with UU Faith Action’s State Task Force on Immigration Justice, which for the past several years has centered on writing and phone calling state legislators to pass what was called The Values Act. It became three separate Immigration Protections bills which were all passed into law this year.* We also participate in other actions such as distributing ‘know your rights’ cards, collecting money and gift cards for families with members in ICE detention in Newark, and joining in protest marches against detention centers.
What We Believe
-
We believe that all people, including those who are non-citizens, should be treated with dignity and respect in every aspect of their steps to obtain legality in the United States.
-
We believe that the international rules of asylum should be followed. Borders should not be sealed. Everyone should be able to have legal counsel when arguing their asylum cases before judges.
-
We believe that immigration reform is desperately needed. There should be easier paths to citizenship, include granting immediate citizenship to those whose parents brought them here as children (DACA) and to those who have been here for 5 years and have not committed crimes.
-
We believe that use of detention should be very limited, and holding facilities should provide adequate food and medical assistance, and there should absolutely be no separation of families.
-
We believe the current methods employed by ICE in arresting, processing, detaining and deporting non-citizens (and citizens ) are illegal and inhumane.
Our Commitments
We have not had a recent Statement of Conscience. If we had one, it might be similar to the Values of the NJ American Immigration Council (from their website):
(We) believe in affirming the rights and dignities of all people, regardless of gender identity, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, political beliefs, abilities, immigration status, or criminal record.
(We) recognize and fight against the inherent cruelties of mass incarceration and punitive immigration policies, including detention and deportation.
(We) recognize that the fight for immigrant justice is bound to the fight for racial justice
(We) believe in the human right to migrate of all people, as defined above.
* On March 25, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed a package of three key bills into law designed to strengthen protections for immigrant communities and restrict cooperation between state law enforcement and federal immigration authorities (ICE). The laws prohibit masks on law enforcement, protect personal data, and codify the 2018 Immigrant Trust Directive into law.