Community Corner
"Listen-In" Event on Immigration Reform at Unitarian Society of Ridgewood
The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood invites all to a public "Listen-In" event, “Immigration Reform: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” on September 27, at 7:30 p.m.
Immigration is a hot topic this summer. At this event, to which Representatives Scott Garrett, Rodney Frelinghuysen, and Bill Pascrell are invited, they and the public will review the bill recently passed in the U.S. Senate and proposals currently before the House. The Congressmen will be asked to share their own views as well as listen to the ideas of members of the audience.
Members of USR’s Peace and Justice Committee are organizing the event and will present information on the Unitarian Universalist Association’s recently adopted “Statement of Conscience” on immigration as a moral issue. The Statement is the culmination of a four-year process of study and reflection throughout the denomination.
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One of the presenters will be a worker from South Jersey who was recently picked up on a minor traffic infraction and then put into immigration detention, in direct violation of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s (ICE) own rules, as well as the Obama Administration’s policy of only detaining and deporting criminals. The worker, who is the father of four and a long-time resident of the United States, will talk about his experience and how it is just one of many thousands of such actions by ICE.
Sally Pillay, director of IRATE/First Friends, will review the work of that organization with immigrant detainees in New Jersey.
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The event will be facilitated by Ted Fetter, chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ. Fetter was Deputy Administrative Director of the Courts in the NJ Judiciary for 24 years, serving with four Chief Justices and four Administrative Directors.
The session is free and open to the public and the press. Refreshments will be served, and childcare is available if requested two weeks in advance by contacting Carol Loscalzo at closcalzo2@aol.com.
For more information call the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood at 201-444-6225 or visit www.uuridgewood.org.
