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A coalition of advocates has been pushing for years for the release of detained immigrants in New Jersey jails. Now, advocates, formerly incarcerated people, faith leaders and others have formed the Interfaith Campaign for Just Closures. The group aims to push the state’s congressional delegation to support HR 536, which would “revamp the immigration detention system,” — which has not been introduced to the Senate yet and is so far just supported by one New Jersey Representative. New Jersey Monitor
In other local immigration news…
Analysis Shows How U.S. Abandons Children After Placing Them with Families
Victoria made the trek from El Salvador across the U.S.-Mexico border age 17. After more than a month in immigration detention, she was sent to a small town in Long Island. Now 24, Victoria was one of 400,000 children the Office of Refugee Resettlement has placed with adult sponsors. The initiative may reflect what the Biden administration envisions as a more humane immigration system. But an article in the New York Review examines how the system that brought Victoria to New York is actually “riddled with flaws, both in conception and in delivery.” Because of this, the system has “condemned many of these young people to a purgatory of insecurity and, on occasion, exploitation.” New York Review
Immigrants Face More Battles in Accessing Excluded Workers Fund Money
The Excluded Workers Fund is a necessity for many New York undocumented immigrants who desperately need money amid the pandemic and were shut out of other federal or state benefits. But community leaders were told last week that applications submitted after last Friday could not be guaranteed for approval. The funds are awarded on a first come, first served basis and advocates are worried there won’t be enough money for everyone that needs it, leaving many people shut out. Albany Times Union
