New Jersey endorses the legislation banning new ICE contracts and urges the discharge of detained immigrants

“Freedom for Immigrants applauds Governor Murphy and the Legislature for taking historic steps to end New Jersey’s complicity in the dehumanizing immigration detention system,” said Tania Mattos, director of Political and Northeast Oversight. “This hard-won victory reflects the resilience and tenacity of our communities – and reaffirms that our vision of a world without incarceration is within our grasp.”

But this full vision may be delayed by the late signing of the bill. Sent to New Jersey legislators S3361 / A5207 to Murphy’s desk about two months ago. P.Rivate prison profiteers CoreCivic and ICE took advantage of this time window and extended a contract for the windowless Elizabeth Detention Center. It seems like Agreement extends the detention of immigrants there for another two years until August 2023. Mattos called the “contract extension is emblematic of the inhuman and for-profit imprisonment system of immigrants, which only served to fill the pockets of private companies at the expense and dehumanization of immigrants and color communities.”

The conditions with Elizabeth were so abhorrent that the owner of the property sued CoreCivic to terminate the lease. Around 100 people are currently detained there. It is unclear where this agreement stands in light of Murphy’s signature. “The legislation does not end existing contracts, but will prevent the long-term growth of New Jersey detention rooms, “the New Jersey ACLU said.

The lawyers celebrated the signing of the bill, which had been an organization for years. “For years, community members and advocates have campaigned to get members of our community out of cages, and New Jersey has taken steps to ensure that people are protected not just by words but by law, ”said Sarah Fajardo, ACLU from New Jersey Policy Director. Mattos previously told NJ.com that immigrants currently incarcerated in the state should be released to continue fighting their cases from their own communities. A major concern is that detained immigrants will not be released – which ICE has every means to do – instead they will be relocated to another area of ​​the country.

The Essex County Correctional Center in Newark was announced last April that it would end its ten-year contract with ICE. But instead of releasing detained immigrants, federal immigration officials moved dozens in the middle of the night. Nobody seemed to know then where they were being sent. “Not even their immigration lawyers currently know where ICE has transferred them to,” groups campaigning for their release tweeted on Tuesday. Groups then sued the transfers.

“It is now up to President Biden and his administration to build on the momentum of this victory and release the remaining immigrants into the New Jersey facilities.” Mattos said after Murphy’s signature. “By directing ICE to layoffs rather than transfers, President Biden can be on the right side of history and work to support, not hinder, the advancement of the communities and lawmakers in New Jersey.”

“This victory has been a long time coming, not just for New Jersey immigrants but for every family separated by incarceration,” Amy Torres, executive director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, told NJ Spotlight News. “Our state is now joining the handful of others who are leading the fight to end ICE detention nationwide. Now that this law will secure our future, we can renew our vigor to fight for the release of all immigrants currently in custody and demand an end to the atrocities of the prison industrial complex. “