Presbytery of Northeastern New Jersey Updates
- lisa26365
- Oct 13, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 28
The Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey
As a presbytery, one of our stated priorities is to use our collective voice to create systemic change, and as people of faith, we are called to care about the ways power is exercised and the impact public policy has on human dignity and community well-being.
Many within our interfaith community are deeply concerned by accounts of aggressive enforcement practices by federal agents and by the lack of transparency and accountability surrounding them - the same concerns which have been raised by generations of subordinated Americans often without being adequately heard or addressed. Recognizing this history deepens, rather than divides, our present discernment and reminds us why sustained attention to justice and oversight matters. These concerns are not rooted in partisan allegiance, but in shared moral commitments to justice, restraint, and the protection of civil rights.
The NJ Coalition of Religious Leaders (NJCRL) is urging Congress to pause and carefully review the actions and oversight of federal agencies operating under the Department of Homeland Security, including Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Independent, bipartisan investigation; cooperation with state and local authorities; and the release of relevant records are essential steps toward restoring trust.
This week, the Senate is considering legislation that would increase funding for the Department of Homeland Security, including expanded resources for immigration detention and enforcement. For those who share concerns about the scope, methods, and accountability of current enforcement practices, this moment presents an opportunity for us to use our collective voices to ask lawmakers to prioritize oversight, transparency, and clearly defined limits before approving additional funding.
I invite those who feel called to do so to contact their members of Congress and urge them to use their vote to support meaningful review, regulation, and safeguards that protect civil liberties and community safety. If you choose to take action, you may contact your U.S. Senators by calling (202) 224-3121 or by sending a message through the "Take Action" link below.
Thank you for your thoughtful discernment and faithful engagement.
Steve Huston
Organizing Co-Leader
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