N.J. Senate condemns Trump orders on immigration, wall
Demonstrators march along Pennsylvania Avenue past the Trump International Hotel in Washington Saturday to protest the immigration policies of President Donald Trump. New Jersey Senate Monday passed two measures Monday objecting to the president's plans to ban immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries and build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
The New Jersey Senate has approved symbolic resolutions condemning President Trump’s now-stalled executive orders on immigration.
One resolution opposes building a wall along the southern U.S. border as well as banning the entry of immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The other measure expresses the Legislature’s intent that colleges continue to serve as safe zones to protect students and their families from action by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Imam Mustafa El Amin from Newark said Monday the resolutions will have a significant effect.
“There’s nothing more touching than to know that you have support from legislators,” he said. “These people that we have elected are stepping forward for justice, for goodness, on support of the Muslim community as well as anyone else.”
Ashraf Latif, who leads the National Islamic Association Masjid and Community Center in Newark, also commended the Senate’s action.
“Because of everyone who has risen and supported this, it has given us so much strength,” he said. “We never thought that a time will come in our state where we have to pass such a resolution. It seems so obnoxious, but reality is here.”
Sen. Nia Gill says the resolutions send a message.
“The president’s executive order cuts through the heart of our nation’s soul,” said Gill, D-Essex. “Our actions and this body’s response will show future generations that we stood in this moment, and we stood for justice.”
The action clearly conveys how lawmakers feel about what they consider discriminatory actions, said Senate President Steve Sweeney.
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