Thread: NJ Governor sets up panel to help integrate undocumented

Immigration


NJ Governor sets up panel to help integrate undocumented aliens
Sunday, 08.12.2007, 10:39pm (GMT-7)

http://indiapost.com/article/immigration/747/

India Post News Service

NEW JERSEY: New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine has established an advisory panel to map strategies on how the state can best address the estimated 400,000 undocumented immigrants living in New Jersey.

Corzine signed an executive order Aug 7, to create a Blue Ribbon Advisory
Panel on Immigrant Policy that will develop recommendations for a comprehensive and strategic statewide approach to successfully integrating immigrants in the State.

The panel is expected to examine immigrant access to services such as health care, education, job training, social services, English classes and civics lessons, as well as what actions the state might take to divert undocumented aliens onto a path toward legalization.

The 27-member panel chaired by New Jersey Public Advocate Ron Chen, includes Indian American businessman from Somerset, Gulshan Chhabra. "For years New Jersey has been a gateway to America - a place of opportunity and new beginnings," Governor Corzine said in a statement.

"And today we take an important step in creating a comprehensive statewide strategy for weaving immigrants into the economic, social and civic fabric of our communities and State." Spokeswoman for the Governor's Office, Gloria Montealegre told India Post the panel will examine a number of areas important to New Jersey's immigrant population, including education, citizenship status, civil rights, fair housing, healthcare, language proficiency and employment and workforce training.

The panel, which is expected to begin deliberations early Fall, must report their findings and recommendations to the Governor by the fifteenth month after its organizational meeting. Expressing happiness on being able to contribute to the community through the panel, Chhabra told India Post that as an immigrant, he felt the pain immigrants go through when they first come to this country.

An engineer by profession, he has been in business for the last two decades in New Jersey and is currently in the real estate business. Montealegre said the panel was very diverse and members were selected not on the basis of their ethnicity but because of what they can bring in terms of experience, expertise and representation.

She said the panel's first job was to recommend best practices to the Governor, vis-a-vis undocumented aliens, for implementation. Chhabra says while the federal government makes all the policies on immigration, the State wants to ensure that all people affected get their fair share of their say in the system. "Immigrants are the backbone of our economy.

When the new immigration law is passed, all those undocumented immigrants who might get permanent status will need education, English proficiency, fair housing and so on," he says. "So we will be asking community people to come forward at the panel's meetings which will be set up around the State, and let us know their concerns.

We will need everybody's support." Adding to that, Montealegre said, while the federal government deals with who's coming into the country and how, the State is concerned about how to service the people who come into the State; how to cut costs on servicing them; and how to grow the economy taking the immigrants along.

"Our economy needs immigrant workers," Montealegre said. "Generally what the Governor has said is that immigrants, whatever their status is, are not a burden to our economy, but that they help our economy. Immigrants in our State contribute at least $8 million to the State's economy, so they are an asset to NJ."

Welcoming the Governor's initiative, Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (D-Franklin) said, "New Jersey's growing population of illegal immigrants cannot be ignored. New Jersey residents want the illegal immigration issue dealt with in a constructive and rational manner and that is precisely what Governor Corzine is achieving with this advisory panel."

Recent studies demonstrate that legalization of undocumented aliens also would be a financial shot in the arm for the state by dramatically increasing revenues from taxes such as disability, payroll and unemployment. Experts say most illegal aliens work off the books, creating an underground economy that deprives the state of needed revenue.

Chivukula said immigration reform would be well received by New Jersey's foreign-born population, which is an estimated 20 percent of the State's close to 9 million populations. The nation's 11 million illegal immigrants have been the focus of heated debate as Congress attempted to deal with the multi-faceted issue.

Corzine's move to form an immigration panel is prompted by the view that states must take the initiative to deal with illegal immigration and follows several failed congressional efforts to reform immigration policy.

"New Jersey's leadership in immigration reform could be a model for other states and keep the issue of illegal reform high on the national radar and prompt federal lawmakers to push for lasting immigration reform," said Chivukula.

Said Senator Ronald Rice, a member of the panel and chair of the African American Legislative Caucus, "When people come to this country, often under duress, they need a place to live and a way to provide needed health care for their families.

But immigrants also need to be treated with respect and be granted the basic human rights associated with the dignity of living in America. We are still a nation of immigrants and we can never forget that. I am hopeful that the Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel will expose the injustices imposed on many immigrants today as they struggle for survival.

It's time to ensure justice for immigrants who today often find the path to citizenship marked with violent attacks, job discrimination and inequality." Assemblyman Joe Vas (D-Middlesex), Mayor of Perth Amboy and the Hispanic Legislative Caucus's representative on the panel said, "Undocumented residents have become an incredibly important facet of our nation's economy and they deserve to be treated in a matter that is respectful and well-reasoned," said Assemblyman Vas.

"It's good to see New Jersey moving in a rational manner where the federal government has failed so miserably. This advisory panel is solid step toward fostering a constructive dialogue on the immigration issue. It will enable all parties to avoid the xenophobic and ill-informed hysteria that too often accompanies the issue."

The Governor's Executive Order authorizes the Panel to call upon any department, office, division or agency of the State to supply it with any information, personnel or other assistance available as deemed necessary to carry out its duties.

As the Panel begins to deliberate on issues such as farm labor, driving privileges and other issues it deems necessary, the Panel will consult with experts in those fields. "The creation of this panel certainly demonstrates the Governor's commitment to ensuring that all New Jersey residents enjoy equal opportunities to participate in the wealth, culture and diversity of this state," said Public Advocate Chen.

"I share that commitment and feel honored to be part of this effort. On a state level, we must work toward developing policies and programs that encourage our newest residents to integrate into our communities, helping to fuel our economic growth, enhance our social network and enrich our cultural fabric. This panel will work hard toward achieving these vital goals."

The Advisory Panel will consist of 18 public members from various arenas. There will be two legislatives members, one each from the African-American and Latino legislative caucuses. There will be seven Commissioners or their designees who will serve as ex-officio members.

Srirekha N. Chakravarty

He's such an *&%^$^#&#&#@!

He needs to be kicked out of office ASAP!

I have established my own one-person advisory panel. Here is the answer to NJ's problem:

Corzine signed this executive order 3 days after the execution style slaying of three collega students in Newark. This is beyond belief!

This is TREASON.

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Originally Posted by camilleinchicago

I have established my own one-person advisory panel. Here is the answer to NJ's problem:

Why are we even concerned with "integrating" people who broke the law by entering our country illegally? This is crazy.

Why do these rich people not understand? They pass such stupid laws, which always is a direct attack on tax payers!

Their PC world, their bleeding hearts, only dips into our pockets to fund these stupid programs, for illegals, which they are not entitled to!

Don't they understand, that we don't want to support these illegals?

Maybe they use them for laundry, lawn care, baby sitters, house work, but the majority of Americans can't even afford to have that, yet the PC politicians want us to "fund the way for Illegals"!

We had a real President and Attorney General they would issue Federal Warrants and send Marshalls to arrest NJ Officials for enabling the breaking of Federal Immigration laws. Lincoln did alot of this kind of enforcement during Civil War! He surrounded MD Legislature and stopped the Secession vote. and threatened Chief Justice Tanney with jail. When they find out your serious they will get in line!

PS
It can be done!

"And today we take an important step in creating a comprehensive statewide strategy for weaving immigrants into the economic, social and civic fabric of our communities and State." Spokeswoman for the Governor's Office, Gloria Montealegre told India Post the panel will examine a number of areas important to New Jersey's immigrant population, including education, citizenship status, civil rights, fair housing, healthcare, language proficiency and employment and workforce training.

This can't possibly be legal, can it? Can states just defy Federal law like this?