GOVERNOR CORZINE CREATES BLUE RIBBON PANEL ON
IMMIGRANT POLICY

LIBERTY STATE PARK –Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed an Executive Order establishing a Blue Ribbon Panel on Immigrant Policy that will develop recommendations for a comprehensive and strategic statewide approach to successfully integrating immigrants in the State.

“For years New Jersey has been a gateway to America – a place of opportunity and new beginnings,” Governor Corzine said. “And today we take an important step in creating a comprehensive statewide strategy for weaving immigrants into the economic, social and civic fabric our communities and State.”

The Governor's Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy will examine a number of areas important to New Jersey’s immigrant population, including education, citizenship status, civil rights, fair housing, healthcare, language proficiency and employment and workforce training. The panel will be chaired by Public Advocate Ron Chen and must report their findings and recommendations to the Governor by the fifteenth month after its organizational meeting.

Said Senator Ronald Rice, a member of the panel and chair of the African American Legislative Caucus, “When people come to this country, often under duress, they need a place to live and a way to provide needed health care for their families. But immigrants also need to be treated with respect and be granted the basic human rights associated with the dignity of living in America. We are still a nation of immigrants and we can never forget that. I am hopeful that the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel will expose the injustices imposed on many immigrants today as they struggle for survival. It’s time to ensure justice for immigrants who today often find the path to citizenship marked with violent attacks, job discrimination and inequality.”

Said Assemblyman Joe Vas (D-Middlesex), Mayor of Perth Amboy and the Hispanic Legislative Caucus’s representative on the panel, “Undocumented residents have become an incredibly important facet of our nation’s economy and they deserve to be treated in a matter that is respectful and well-reasoned,” said Assemblyman Vas.  “It's good to see New Jersey moving in a rational manner where the federal government has failed so miserably.  This advisory panel is solid step toward fostering a constructive dialogue on the immigration issue.  It will enable all parties to avoid the xenophobic and ill-informed hysteria that too often accompanies the issue.”

The Governor’s Executive Order authorizes the Panel to call upon any department, office, division or agency of the State to supply it with any information, personnel or other assistance available as deemed necessary to carry out its duties. As the Panel begins to deliberate on issues such as farm labor, driving privileges and other issues it deems necessary, the Panel will consult with experts in those fields.

“The creation of this panel certainly demonstrates the Governor’s commitment to ensuring that all New Jersey residents enjoy equal opportunities to participate in the wealth, culture and diversity of this state,” said Public Advocate Chen. “I share that commitment and feel honored to be part of this effort.  On a state level, we must work toward developing policies and programs that encourage our newest residents to integrate into our communities, helping to fuel our economic growth, enhance our social network and enrich our cultural fabric. This panel will work hard toward achieving these vital goals.”

The Advisory Panel will consist of 27 members. The Governor will appoint 18 public members from various arenas. There will be two legislatives members, one each from the African-American and Latino legislative caucuses.  There will be seven Commissioners or their designees who will serve as ex-officio members.

The Executive Order is below:

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 78

            WHEREAS, New Jersey ranks 3rd in the nation in the number of its foreign-born residents as a percentage of the total State population; and

            WHEREAS, immigrants have historically contributed to the economic, social, and civic fabric of this State and this nation; and

            WHEREAS, immigrants face many challenges and obstacles on the path to becoming fully productive and self-sufficient members of society; and

            WHEREAS, New Jersey recognizes that the successful integration of its immigrants as fully productive and self-sufficient members of society is critical to the future economic and social well-being of the State; and

            WHEREAS, the federal government enacts immigration policy regarding the terms and conditions for entry and work in the United States; and

            WHEREAS, the states have the responsibility for the development and implementation of policies that assist immigrants’ integration into society; and

            WHEREAS, a progressive and holistic approach by the State towards immigrant policy that leverages the skills and assets of its immigrants and directs State resources in accelerating immigrant integration will benefit the entire State;

             NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

            1.       There is hereby established the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy (“Advisory Panel”).

            2.       All public members of the Advisory Panel shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at his pleasure. The Governor shall select from among all of the members the chair of the Advisory Panel. All public members of the Advisory Panel shall serve without compensation.

            3.       The Advisory Panel shall consist of 27 members. The 18 public members shall be broadly representative of the following subjects and constituencies: civil rights, commerce, community-based organizations, education, faith-based organizations, immigration advocacy, labor, and service providers. The New Jersey Legislature’s African-American and Latino Caucuses shall each select from their membership one member to serve on the Advisory Panel. The Attorney General, the Commissioners of Children and Families, Education, Health and Senior Services, Human Services, and Labor and Workforce Development, and the Public Advocate or their designees shall serve as ex-officio members of the Advisory Panel. Vacancies on the Advisory Panel shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

            4.       The Advisory Panel shall organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members.

            5.       The Advisory Panel shall be authorized to call upon any department, office, division or agency of this State to supply it with any information, personnel or other assistance available as the Advisory Panel deems necessary to discharge its duties under this Order. Each department, office, division or agency of this State is hereby required, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate fully with the Advisory Panel within the limits of its statutory authority and to furnish the Advisory Panel with such assistance on as timely a basis as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order. The Advisory Panel may consult with experts or other knowledgeable individuals in the public or private sector on any aspect of its mission.  The Department of the Public Advocate shall provide staff support to the Advisory Panel.

            6.       The Advisory Panel is charged with developing recommendations for a comprehensive and strategic statewide approach to successfully integrate the rapidly growing immigrant population in New Jersey.

            7.       The Advisory Panel shall develop recommendations on how the State can better prepare immigrants to become fully productive and self-sufficient members of society by addressing the need for greater access in the following areas: civil rights, citizenship status, education, employment/workforce training, fair housing, healthcare, language proficiency and other key areas as identified by the Advisory Panel.

            8.        The Advisory Panel shall elicit input by conducting public hearings to take testimony from individuals, community groups and other interested parties and by arranging for those who are not able to testify in person to forward their testimony by mail or by internet.

            9.        The Advisory Panel may report to the Governor from time to time and shall issue a final report to the Governor no later than 15 months from the date of the first organizational meeting. The final report shall include the Advisory Panel’s recommendations, including whether a more permanent body is necessary for the implementation of immigrant policy in the State or whether another type of entity is more appropriate.  The Advisory Panel shall expire upon the issuance of its final report.

            10.       Any reports of the Advisory Panel shall be provided to the Legislature and shall be made available to the public.

            11.       This Order shall take effect immediately.                                   

###

Photos and audio and video clips from Governor Corzine's public events are available in the Governor's Newsroom section on the State of New Jersey web page, http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/