Using election cycles to secure funding

In New Jersey, the 2017 gubernatorial election of a pro-immigrant candidate created a high-profile opportunity to position universal representation as a priority among lawmakers. Local advocates were able to seize the opportunity and make the case for funding a statewide program, thanks to the groundwork they had laid in previous years. In 2015, the American Friends Service Committee started a privately funded universal representation pilot program, providing a model for the local coalition to build on.[]The Working Group on Immigrant Representation in New Jersey, Universal Representation: Why the Garden State Should Provide Access to Counsel for Detained Immigrants (South Orange, NY: The Working Group on Immigrant Representation in New Jersey, 2017), 2, https://perma.cc/FZP9-MEG7. And in 2016, Seton Hall University School of Law released a report that included statistics demonstrating the need for a publicly funded universal representation program.[]Lori A. Nessel and Farrin Anello, Deportation Without Representation: The Access-to-Justice Crisis Facing New Jersey’s Immigrant Families, (Newark, NJ: Seton Hall University, Seton Hall Law Center for Social Justice, 2016), https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2805525.

Both during and after the 2017 gubernatorial election cycle, the coalition took additional action to secure funding for a universal representation program, including the following:

  • establishing relationships and getting an on-the-record public statement from the candidate in support of allocating public dollars for deportation defense;[]Phil Murphy: Democrat for Governor, “Murphy Calls for State Office to Assist Immigrants Caught in Trump’s Web,” January 30, 2017, https://perma.cc/YN7U-ENJK.
  • advising political campaign staff and elected officials on immigration policy; and
  • engaging in extensive advocacy postelection, including meetings, sign-on letters, and op-eds.[]Ted Sherman, “Groups Push N.J. to Provide Legal Assistance to Those Facing Deportation,” January 29, 2018, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, https://perma.cc/735T-8PVW; and Susan Roy, “Why N.J. Immigrants Aren't Getting Fair Day in Court Before Deportation,” March 19, 2018, updated January 30, 2019, Star-Ledger, https://perma.cc/6S9L-W97N.

As a result of this multipronged, multiyear campaign effort, Governor Phil Murphy allocated $2.1 million in his inaugural state budget in 2018 and $3.1 million in 2019 to provide deportation defense through New Jersey’s nonprofit legal service organizations.[]“Murphy OKs $3.1M for Immigrants Facing Deportation—$1M Boost,” July 1, 2019, New Jersey 101.5–Townsquare Media, https://perma.cc/7N66-NG7V. A diverse and growing coalition has continued to advocate that Governor Murphy fully fund deportation defense for detained immigrants.[]“Sixty Leading NJ Faith, Community and Advocacy Organizations Send Letter to Gov. Murphy Urging Full Funding for Legal Defense for Detained Immigrants,” February 7, 2020, InsiderNJ, https://perma.cc/2YB6-FA2S. The coalition continues to publish advocacy reports to support its ongoing efforts.[]American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, American Friends Service Committee, Make the Road New Jersey, New Jersey Policy Perspective, and Seton Hall Law School Immigrants’ Rights/International Human Rights Clinic, Due Process for All: Promoting Access to Justice for Immigrants in New Jersey (2019), https://perma.cc/S2Z8-J4A4.