Murphy was criticized for backing down on support for immigrants in New Jersey

A federal proposal to move immigrants seeking asylum from New York to New Jersey

The response of local county leaders has turned into anti-immigrant rhetoric

Immigrant advocates say the governor’s comments made matters worse

Days after Gov. Phil Murphy said he “didn’t see” New Jersey taking in immigrants from New York, immigrant advocates said the governor gave an “open pass” to politicians who harassed immigrants.

“We’re very disappointed with Governor Murphy’s position, just because a year ago he announced his support for immigrant admissions, and now he seems to have changed 180 degrees,” Atlantic City CEO Cristian Moreno Rodriguez told the New York Times. Jersey 101.5 on Tuesday.

Moreno Rodriguez led a coalition of advocates at a news conference after Labor Day, holding politicians accountable for xenophobic comments made during a Friday event protesting any federal attempt to move immigrants to the Atlantic City area.

Governor Phil Murphy September 1, 2023 Labor Day Event Southern NJ Labor Day Celebration Grant AFL-CIO Central Labor Council (Rich Hundley III_Governor’s Office)

Murphy “sees no scenario” for transferring immigrants to the air conditioner

As first reported by Bloomberg on Aug. 30, US Department of Homeland Security officials recently sent a list of 11 federally owned facilities — including Airport AC — as potential transfer sites for about 60,000 immigrants who have arrived in New York City.

“I don’t see any scenario where we’d be able to get into a program at AC or frankly anywhere else in the state,” Gov. Phil Murphy said during News 12 New Jersey that aired later that Thursday.

Audio and text shared by Murphy’s Office on Tuesday with New Jersey 101.5.

The governor was asked: “What is your position on sheltering immigrants at an airport in our state? Would that also pose a security risk?”

“We’re going to need a massive amount of federal support and resources,” he said. “Apart from everything else, I don’t see it continuing that way.”

Earlier Thursday, State Senator Declan O’Scanlon, Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn and Assemblywoman Jerry Scharffenberger — all Monmouth County Republicans — called on the governor to “immediately intercede and protect Atlantic City Airport from being used as a metaphor for the bungled crisis.” The Biden administration’s immigration policies.”

“It is time for the governor and U.S. Senators to make clear to New York City and Washington, D.C., that New Jersey will not tolerate their inability to implement real and effective changes to address the immigration crisis facing this nation.”

“We haven’t heard about this directly from the feds or the White House,” Murphy said of the airport proposal on Thursday.

“At least I would agree with some of the opinion of Republican lawmakers,” Murphy said during a News 12 program that aired Thursday, speaking about immigration reform in the country. “Let’s figure this situation out.”

Immigrants to Central America, says Van Drew, would include “criminals”.

On Friday, the mayor of Atlantic City, several council members, Atlantic County commissioners, members of the State House and Senate, and US Congressman Jeff Van Drew attended a bipartisan press conference to present a “united front” against any plan to move immigrants to the region.

“We stand as a united front for the possibility of migrants going into the town of Egg Harbor,” Small said at the event, noting that the airport was actually 10 miles from the town limits.

“I want us all to maintain the same energy because in my experience as mayor, Atlantic City has always been a place of waste,” he said.

Van Drew said he could “guarantee” that criminals would be among any migrants brought to the airport.

State Sen. Vince Pulistina said the long hospital waits or slow local response to 911 is because “they take care of immigrants instead of Americans first.”

Advocates say New Jersey’s scapegoating immigrant community is “crossing the line.”

“When you start labeling an entire immigrant community as criminals, as part of drug cartels on terror watch lists – you’re now crossing the line,” Moreno-Rodriguez said.

“What we will not do is tolerate the scapegoating of our community,” he said, adding that Friday’s message went from condemning a specific White House policy proposal regarding the transportation of migrants to the region and escalated into xenophobic and hate speech. .

He said the silence of others at Friday’s event made them complicit in the comments made, even if they said they had been allies of immigrants in the past.

Moreno Rodriguez also said the governor has essentially sided with critics by saying the state cannot accept immigrants, opening the floodgates to extremist rhetoric against immigrants and Murphy’s past policies.

Moreno Rodriguez also condemned the hypocrisy of Mayor Small and other politicians – saying that anyone speaking out against illegal immigrants in the area or in this country should not go out to eat – as many jobs are filled by these community members – and not hire them “when You need services to be performed on your property or in your home.

“It’s hypocrisy at its worst – you’re misusing our work, but when it comes to giving us rights and dignity in one way or another, that’s a problem,” Moreno-Rodriguez said.

A request for a response from the governor’s office to Moreno Rodriguez’s comments was not immediately responded to Tuesday.

In 2019, the Murphy administration backed away from calling New Jersey a “sanctuary state,” though Murphy had used the phrase during his gubernatorial campaign. He had earlier said during a debate that “if necessary, we will be a refuge not only for the city but also for the state.”

Other speakers at Tuesday’s event were members of the Hispanic League of Atlantic County, Movimiento Cosecha NJ, organizers of the Atlantic County Puerto Rico Parade and union leaders from Unite Here Local 54, which represents hospitality workers in the area.

“Isn’t it sad that one of the only times Republicans and Democrats get together, they start to scapegoat an entire community,” said Carlos Castaneda of Movimiento Cosecha in New Jersey.

Jessica Grullon of the Hispanic Association of the Atlantic Province said Friday’s comments about the humanitarian crisis of migrants seeking asylum were “tone deaf” and “gas lighting at its finest.”

“How dare you refer to your working-class people as criminals — and disrespect their names,” Grullon said, adding that the same politicians will appease Latino voters ahead of the November election.

Atlantic City City Councilman condemns immigrant bashing

By early Tuesday afternoon, Atlantic City Councilman Clem Shabazz issued a written statement “condemning the bashing of immigrants” at Friday’s event, which he did attend.

“There was a bipartisan consensus and agreement that the region cannot support, sustain, or accommodate the influx of large numbers of migrants,” Shabazz said, adding that this consensus “was violated when some speakers resorted to ‘talking points’ that targeted migrants, and used extremist rhetoric.” And threats.” He gave a distorted look to all immigrants.

He continued: “We are better when we are inclusive, welcoming, and open to all legal approaches to our country.”

“The comprehensive consensus reached should not be diminished by inappropriate appeals to divisive forces and divisive language,” Shabazz said.

Atlantic City Airport as a federal property

When Atlantic City International Airport was established in 1942, it was originally a naval air station on 4,312 acres leased from Atlantic City.

In 1958, the lease was transferred to what is now the Federal Aviation Administration.

The South Jersey Transit Authority was established in 1991.

A year later, SJTA acquired from Atlantic City the airport’s 84-acre civilian terminal area in the town of Egg Harbor.

In 2013, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey entered into a 15-year agreement to provide management services at Atlantic City International Airport.

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