Open Letter to our Congressional Representatives and Senators from NJ Faith Leaders

To: The NJ Senators and Congressional Representatives in the United States Congress
From: Interfaith Clergy Leaders across NJ and the Coalition of Religious Leaders
Subject: Immediate Reform of Immigration Enforcement

As leaders of faith communities across the state of New Jersey, we implore you to draft and support bi-partisan legislation to immediately eliminate the immoral tactics used by ICE and CBP to “round up” human beings whom they suspect are living in our country without legal status. These tactics are dehumanizing and create an atmosphere of fear and mistrust – not only within the immigrant community but also among law abiding citizens of the United States. These tactics go against American principles. These tactics go against the teachings and beliefs of our religious traditions. These tactics are an affront to our compassionate and loving God. These tactics are a moral outrage.

We recognize the need for the United States to have systems and laws that justly regulate our borders and ensure the safety of those living within them. However, having masked paramilitary troops inducing fear in our neighborhoods is not justice. Killing American citizens who disagree with these tactics is not justice. Creating fear in our schools, our work, our houses of worship, and even within our homes is not justice. We lament these heinous acts. Shalom – God’s justice – doesn’t oppress those who are most vulnerable. God’s justice prioritizes those who are most vulnerable (Zechariah 7:10).

The dehumanizing rhetoric and violence directed at immigrants in our country must stop. We are all – including immigrants – children of God and, as such, have human rights, these rights include the prohibition against cruelty.

We pray that you search your hearts and act now. Develop bi-partisan solutions to eliminate the despair and injustice that we see happening every day on our streets all over America. And we are praying that God will guide you towards legislative remedies that return our country to peace, mercy, and justice.

Thank you.

Rev. Jeanne Radak, Presbytery Leader, Presbytery of the Highlands of NJ, Randolph, NJ

Rabbi Matthew D. Gewirtz, Senior Rabbi, Temple B’nai Jeshurun, Short Hills, NJ

Rev. Nancy Truscott, Pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Nutley, NJ

Rev. Dr. Christa M. Compton, Bishop, New Jersey Synod (ELCA), Hamilton Square, NJ

Rev. Larissa Kwong Abazia, Executive Director, NEXT Church, Robbinsville, NJ

Rev. Craig Peterson, Associate Conference Minister, Central Atlantic Conference (UCC), Helmetta, NJ

Rabbi Arnold S. Gluck, Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough, NJ

Rabbi David Z. Vaisberg, Senior Rabbi, Temple B’nai Abraham, Livingston, NJ

Sutinder Singh Dhanjal American Sikh Council USA

Rev. Dr. Roberto Fois, Board of Directors member, Central Atlantic Conference, United Church of Christ, Branchburg, NJ

Rev. Steve Huston, Presbytery Leader, Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey, Bloomfield, NJ

The Rev. Ted Foley, Deacon, Episcopal Diocese of NJ

The Rev. Dr. Mary E. Westfall, Presbytery Leader, Presbytery of the Coastlands, NJ

Rev. John Licitra, Chaplain Holisticare Hospice of NJ

Fr. Jack Zamboni, Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey

The Rev. Christopher Cox, Deacon, Episcopal Diocese of NJ

The Rev. Brigitte J. Pincelli, Archdeacon, Episcopal Diocese of NJ

The Rev. Eve Chamberlain, Deacon, Diocese of New Jersey

The Rev. Charlene Snyder, Deacon, Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey 

The Rev Gail Bennett, Deacon, Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey

Chaplain Barbara A. Miles Holy Temple Church Of God In Christ South Toms River N.J. 

The Rev. Petrina Pyatt, Retired Long-time Supply Priest, Diocese of New Jersey

The Rev. Carlton Dunn, Deacon, Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey

The Rev. Diane Riley, Deacon, The Episcopal Diocese of Newark

The Rev. Canon Andrew R. Wright, Th.D., Canon to the Ordinary, The Episcopal Diocese of Newark

The Rev. John A. Mennell, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Montclair NJ

The Rev. Canon Joan Mason, Priest, Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey

Deacon Virginia Jenkins-Whatley, Episcopal Diocese of Newark

The Rev. Michael A. Muller, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Mountain Lakes NJ

The Rev. Fr. Raul E. Ausa, The Episcopal Diocese of Newark

The Rev. Rose Cohen Hassan, Episcopal Church ofSt. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange, NJ

The Rev. Sharon Patterson, Priest, Episcopal Diocese of N

The Rev Deacon Deborah Rucki Drake, Episcopal Diocese of Newark. 

The Rev. Joan F. Conley, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Teaneck, NJ

Fr. Wayne Sherrer, Episcopal Diocese of Newark

The Rev. Canon Robert Picken, Episcopal Diocese of Newark

Cantor Daniel Green, Cantor Emeritus, Congregation B’nai Israel, Toms River, NJ

The Rev. Susan A. Schink, Episcopal Diocese of Newark

The Rev. Robert Corin Morris, Assisting Priest, St. George’s Episcopal Church, Maplewood NJ

The Rev. Mark Hernandez, Deacon, Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey

The Reverend Deacon Jacqueline McLeod, Christ Episcopal/ Bloomfield/Glen Ridge NJ

Rev. Susan S. Jones, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, ELCA, Toms River, NJ

Rev. Giselle C. Coutinho, Bridge of Peace Community Church, ELCA, Camden, NJ

Rev. Paul Shoaf Kozak, Priest-in-Charge, Christ Episcopal Church/Cristo Rey, Trenton

The Rev. Anthony Puca, Jr., Grace Episcopal Church, Westwood, NJ

The Rev. Elizabeth Ivell, Church of the Messiah, Chester and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 

Sparta, NJ

The Rev. Dr. Carolyn Bradley, Dcn, Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River, NJ Rev. Linda Wood, Retired, Long Beach Island, NJ