May 2nd Support Immigrant Rights in Morristown, NJ

Please see below information on an event in at St. Margaret’s in Morristown, NJ this Saturday at 10:00 am regarding the pending 287(g) application. Section 287(g)of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, a law passed in 1996 in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombings, authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, permitting local police officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions.

Currently both the city of Morristown and the county jail in Monmouth have pending 287(g) applications. Mayor Cresitello of Morristown is well known for his anti-immigrant statements and there is much concern from civil, human and immigrant rights advocates as well as from the local community of the effect enacting 287(g) would have on Morristown.

If you can, please come and show your support for the immigrant community of Morristown and speak up in favor of human rights and against the increased militarization of our society.

Additional Info on 287(g)

Last Monday the East Valley Tribune was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting for its series on the immigration enforcement policies of Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Maricopa County, AZ. Maricopa County is a participant in the 287(g) program.

The conclusion of the series was that the 287(g) program has led to slower response times to emergency calls, a decreased arrest rate and increased overtime costs.

Here is a link to the articles on how 287(g) has affected Maricopa County


Washington Post Article citing a GAO report describing problems with the 287(g) program

What Would 287(g) mean for Morristown?

A Community Conversation

Saturday May 2, 2009 at 10 am

St. Margaret’s Church

6 Sussex Avenue, Morristown, NJ

There has been a lot of conversation lately in Morristown about the proposed 287(g) agreement, which would deputize local police to enforce federal immigration laws. Please join us for a community-wide conversation with Mayor Cresitello and other experts about the 287(g) program and its implications for Morristown, New Jersey and United States.

Sponsored by:

American Friends Service Committee,

Wind of the Spirit and other organizations

Contact: windofthespirit@verizon.net / 973-538-2035- 201.563.1062