National Labor Leader Dolores Huerta Joins Immigrant Essential Workers on 20th Day of Fast for Relief, Calls on Gov. Murphy and Legislature to Extend Aid to Excluded Workers

Immigrant Workers Left Behind from Aid for More than a Year are on Hunger Strike to Urge Gov. Murphy, Legislature to Provide COVID Relief

 April 27, 2021:  On their 20th day of a “Fast for Relief,” — a hunger strike led by 34 essential immigrant workers that have been left behind from COVID relief — labor leader Dolores Huerta joined the fasters to record a video message of support. In it, the co-founder of the United Farm Worker and legendary labor leader, calls on Gov. Murphy and the legislature to provide aid to the state’s half million undocumented immigrants and their families.

Watch Dolores Huerta’s recording and message to Gov. Murphy and the state legislature here.

On April 7th, more than 30 immigrant essential workers and their families launched a fast for a COVID relief fund to provide relief to immigrants left behind from aid. This includes a fund to provide $600 weekly payments to workers left behind from aid and stimulus like payments to immigrants left behind from relief. Fasters continue to push after Gov. Murphy’s proposal of $40 million, which does not meet the vast need in the community. In addition, New Jersey will receive $6 billion in federal stimulus funds. Still, despite this unexpected revenue, immigrant workers and other left behind from relief, have not received a penny in unemployment or stimulus, despite contributing more than $1 billion to the UI system over the past ten years and $1.6 billion annually in federal, state and local taxes.

“As an essential health care worker who is also undocumented, I am fasting because my family deserves relief, not just applause. We are encouraged by Governor Murphy’s words of support and ask that he and the legislature deliver real relief to our communities. I will fast until we can secure this relief for our families,” said Mariana, faster and member of Make the Road NJ from Elizabeth, NJ.

“I worked during the pandemic to make sure families stayed fed, but when I lost my job, I couldn’t make ends meet,” said Noemi Ruiz, essential worker who joined Dolores Huerta for the event and who has been fasting for weeks. “Even though I paid into unemployment, I couldn’t receive a penny in aid. I’m a single mother and I could barely provide for my daughter. I’ve joined the Fast for Relief because our dignity and our lives are on the line.”

Earlier this month, the New York state legislature approved a $2.1 Billion aid program for excluded immigrant workers.

In New Jersey, undocumented immigrants have been disproportionately harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic and are excluded from nearly every form of government aid. Many undocumented immigrants work in essential occupations, including delivery, warehouse, health care, and cleaning professions, which have allowed millions of New Jerseyans to shelter in place during the worst months of the pandemic. Despite their contributions, undocumented immigrants are ineligible for unemployment insurance, TANF, SNAP, and most other safety net programs.