• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Skip to footer navigation

  • Calendar of events
  • 687 Larch Av, Teaneck NJ
  • 201-836-5187
  • Contact Us
  • DONATE
Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

  • Home
  • About
    • Platform
    • From our Society’s President, Susan Lesh
    • FAQ
      • How does Ethical Culture make a difference in society?
      • What social life is there in Ethical Culture?
      • How is Ethical Culture religious?
    • Ethical Brew
    • Ceremonies
    • Philosophy
    • Constitution & Bylaws
    • Our Building Calendar
    • Contact Us
  • Ethical Kids
    • Sunday School
      • Primary Class
      • Elementary Class
      • Junior Class
      • Senior Class
      • Sunday school FAQ
    • Youth Group
  • Leader
    • Wedding Officiant
    • Speaking of Ethics: Living a Humanist Life
    • Leader’s Talks
  • Social Action
    • All Social Action Articles
    • Battling Racism
    • Environmental Action
    • Healthcare
  • Adult Ed
    • Job Club
    • Socrates Cafe
    • Do Tell!
    • Ethical Culture Review of Books
  • News
    • President Column
    • UN Report
    • Platform Addresses
  • Events

Immigration Rights Advocates Applaud NJ’s Ban Against Police Assisting ICE

December 20, 2018

Joseph Chuman with New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal

By Dr. Joseph Chuman

More than a hundred community organizers, social justice lawyers and activists of various stripes convened on the campus of the College of New Jersey outside of Trenton on Dec. 18 for a conference held by the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, of which our Ethical Culture Society is a member. 

There was electricity in the air generated by the edict proclaimed three weeks ago by our state Attorney General (and former Bergen County prosecutor) Gurbir Grewal that forbids New Jersey police—all 36,000 of them—at the state, county and municipal levels of cooperating with the Department of Immigration and

Customs Enforcement (ICE). This means no stopping by the police, questioning, arresting, searching or detaining any person because of his or her suspected or actual immigration status. It means no police assistance in civil immigration enforcement, no ICE access to local police resources, databases, offices, etc. It means that ICE cannot interview people held on criminal charges without their written permission, and a person who has a scheduled release date and time from jail cannot be held longer (so-called “detainers”) to accommodate an arrest by ICE. In criminal prosecutions, a witness’ credibility cannot be attacked based on immigration status, and other measures of protections.

This is a major achievement toward justice and protection of a very imperiled minority and will hopefully stand as an inspiration for other states to emulate. Mr. Grewal’s approach to formulating the directive was creative and powerful. He got immigration rights advocates working together with the police. When the press conference announcing the directive took place at Liberty State Park, the Attorney General was flanked by both immigration advocates and the police chiefs of New Jersey’s five major cities. Police support is rational and compelling. Law enforcement recognizes that when immigrants fear that any contact with the police may lead to deportation they fail to report crimes, refuse to serve as witnesses, do not come forward when they themselves are victims, refuse to go to court for any legitimate reason, and generally seek to stay out of sight. The result, as the police correctly realize, is that their cooperation with ICE jeopardizes public safety. We are all safer when the police stick to police work and are not deputized to hunt down our neighbors.

Attorney General Grewal, himself a child of immigrants, gave the keynote address at the conference, (think of the symbolism of the state’s chief law enforcement agent speaking in unity with a progressive organization supporting the oppressed and marginalized). He strongly criticized the scapegoating of immigrants coming out of Washington and contrasting his approach—our approach—in New Jersey. He received a rapturous standing ovation. There is much to do, but this is a very important step for which we can be both thankful and proud.

Dr. Joseph Chuman is leader of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County and a founder of the Northern New Jersey Sanctuary Coalition.

Primary Sidebar

Sign up for our newsletter.

Upcoming Events

Fri 05

Mindfulness at Midday: Meditation, Movement, and Discussion Group

March 5 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Sun 07

Platform: The Culture of Ethical Culture

March 7 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Sun 07

Ethical Eating for Humane and Healthy People and Planet

March 7 @ 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Sun 07

Job Club Workshop

March 7 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Fri 12

Mindfulness at Midday: Meditation, Movement, and Discussion Group

March 12 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

View More…

Being White

Society asks Teaneck to Make BLM Mural Permanent

About Us

Ethical Culture was founded to focus on community and good works, rather than personal salvation. Read more…

We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

Ethical Brew

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Archives

Footer

Connect with Us

Address: 687 Larch Ave, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: 201-836-5187
Email: admin@ethicalfocus.org

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Despite the Snow, Cold, and Covid, Camaraderie Finds a Way February 24, 2021
  • The Power of our Ethical Culture Way of Life February 24, 2021
  • One Step at a Time–and Watch the Ice! February 24, 2021
  • Political reform and gun-law reform rank high in Social Action survey February 22, 2021
  • Goodwill and good luck propelled philanthropist and cultural statesman behind a cosmetics empire February 18, 2021

We believe in ethics. We believe in people.

Please believe in us.

Topics

atheism atheist church book review children civil rights climate change community compassion death democracy Doris Friedensohn Elizabeth Warren environment Ethical Brew Ethical Culture ethical dilemmas ethical education ethics everyday ethics Felix Adler global warming happiness healthcare humanism humanist humanists human rights Israel Joseph Chuman meetinghouse Middle East politics racism religion Robert Gulack Secular Humanism social action Socrates Cafe Sunday School Susan Golden technology Trump unemployment winter solstice world health

What We Do For Fun….

There's always time for play: celebrations, discussions (some in Spanish -- find Conversemos on our calendar on the fourth Tuesday of the month), hikes, picnics, cultural outings, and affinity groups like our monthly Men's Dinners and Women's Dinners.
Kids get into the act
Diane running the show

Important Links

  • Member of the American Ethical Union
  • Ethical Brew
  • Sanctuary Committee
  • BC Gun Violence Prevention
  • NJ Website Designer
© 2021 | The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County NJ

Copyright © 2021 · Kreativ Pro On Genesis Framework · The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County · Log in

  • Calendar of events
  • 687 Larch Av, Teaneck NJ
  • 201-836-5187
  • Contact Us
  • DONATE