In 2018, New Jersey launched a new, publicly funded legal defense program for individuals who are detained and facing deportation in New Jersey. As a result, hundreds of families will be able to remain together, and more immigrants will be able to fight their case with a lawyer by their side. But this years' funding, $3.1 million, only covers a fraction of the thousands of indigent immigrants who are detained and facing deportation without a lawyer in New Jersey. 

Now more than ever, universal immigration representation is critical to protecting the lives of vulnerable immigrants in detention, to reuniting separated families, to fighting for racial justice, and to promoting the health and stability of New Jersey’s communities as we fight the pandemic. Looking ahead to future waves of COVID-19 infections, universal representation will save lives both in and out of detention center

We need our state to reaffirm its investment in keeping our families together and fighting back against attacks on our immigrant brothers and sisters by significantly increasing funding in the budget for a universal representation program that provides free, appointed counsel to low-income immigrants in our state who are detained and facing potential deportation.