Dear CoFiA Members and Friends: Even while things are looking very gloomy for immigration reform on the federal level, immigrants rights groups continue working very hard on legislation that is working its way through the New Jersey legislature that if passed would improve things immeasurably for immigrant detainees and others in the criminal justice system. Here are two separate initiatives–one from NJ Alliance for Immigrant Justice, and one from AFSC. If you have been wishing for something to do to make a difference, please make these calls on Monday morning. Thanks!
From AFSC
Friends,
We are mobilizing calls today and Monday morning for three bills that will be voted on the floor this coming Monday at 2pm: 1) Phone rates bill (in both the Senate and the Assembly), 2) Solitary restriction bill (only Senate), and 3) Racial impact statement bill (only Senate).
Find your legislator: https://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51236/getLocal.jsp (scroll down to the middle for “state legislators”)
You will find a Senator and two House members. You will ask the Senator to support:
S1880 prison phone rates bill because lower and affordable phone calls can help incarcerated people stay connected with their loved ones and counties should not profit from low-income family members.
S51 solitary confinement restriction bill because it will reduce the unnecessary use of solitary confinement and because solitary confinement poses negative human and fiscal impacts.
S677 racial and ethnic impact statement for bills and regulations affecting sentencing because sentencing and incarceration has disproportionally impacted minorities in NJ.
Ask the House member to vote yes on:
A1419 prison phone rates bill because lower and affordable phone calls can help incarcerated people stay connected with their loved ones and counties should not profit from low-income family members.
If you have the time and option, please also find a Republican district to target.
Thanks all.
Chia-Chia Wang, American Friends Service Committee Immigrants Rights Program