Camden County Resolution Affirms Support of Immigrants
and Pledges Ongoing Partnership with Community Leaders

For Immediate Release
Friday, March 16, 2018

Contact:
Archange Antoine, Faith in New Jersey, 732-677-8728 (Cell), 609-256-4118, ext. 701 (Office)
Hera Mir, NJAIJ, 732-640-8396 (cell), 973-681-8070 (office)
Allison Peltzman, ACLU-NJ, 201-253-9403 (cell), 973-854-1711 (office)

Three of New Jersey’s leading civil rights and immigrants’ rights organizations welcomed a resolution adopted March 15 by the Camden County Board of Freeholders ensuring the county is fair and welcoming.

Faith in New Jersey, the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey praised Camden County for being the first county in South Jersey to take this step, which voices commitment to revising internal protocols and policies to more strongly support immigrant communities.

“The moral arc bends towards justice when we educate, organize, and take strategic action,” said Archange Antoine, executive director of Faith in New Jersey, an organization of faith communities that advocates for immigrants’ rights, racial justice, human rights, and economic justice. “Today, faith and community leaders celebrate the Camden County Freeholder Board for taking this important step toward protecting the immigrant community and guaranteeing full protection of the U.S. Constitution to all residents. We look forward to continuing our partnership to strengthen our communities.”

The new resolution announces Camden County’s aim of being a fair and welcoming county, paving the way for reforms with the goal of better serving the needs of all of its residents and making further efforts to avoid spending limited county resources to take on the work of federal immigration enforcement agencies. Camden County’s leadership has expressed plans to work with advocates in the coming months, an effort led by Faith in New Jersey, to map out next steps. County leadership has stated publicly over the years that county government does not use its resources to facilitate ICE investigations except where required by law.

“When people fear that any interaction with law enforcement could jeopardize themselves or their loved ones, people lose trust in their government and retreat in fear. Camden County has taken up an opportunity to stave off those anxieties and show that it’s on the side of families and public safety, not the side of threats and division,” said Johanna Calle, director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. “We’re looking forward to working with the county, alongside our partners in Faith in New Jersey, to continue developing policies that protect the safety, dignity, and humanity of all people.”

The resolution sets forth the county’s intention to put policies in place that reflect the inclusive character and welcoming atmosphere its freeholders strive to create.

“This is an important step, and we hope it’s just the first of many on the county’s path toward protecting the rights and public safety of every community member,” said ACLU-NJ Senior Staff Attorney Farrin Anello.

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