By Donald Gilpin

The town of Princeton, recent immigrant residents, and a number of local organizations are feeling the pressure from Trump administration policies on immigration.

In his first month in office President Trump has signed numerous administrative orders on immigration. He has promised mass deportations and declared a national emergency at the southern border with major changes to border security.

The Trump administration has closed the refugee resettlement program and the asylum application system and adopted a new policy which allows immigration authorities to enter schools, hospitals, and places of worship to arrest immigrants.

Federal authorities have threatened to withhold funding from communities that don’t cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), although Councilwoman Leticia Fraga pointed out, “They can’t force local and state governments to do the work of the federal government.”

The town of Princeton has not considered itself a “sanctuary city,” but has rather embraced the less controversial designation as a “welcoming city,” with policies that limit local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

An ICE raid in downtown Princeton in July 2024 resulted in one arrest, but the Princeton Police Department was not involved, and local government officials were not informed in advance. Mayor Mark Freda criticized ICE’s failure to communicate with local or state governments concerning their incursion into Princeton and subsequent actions.

Town Topics requested comments from Freda, Council, and other municipal officials concerning the current situation regarding recent immigrants in Princeton in light of federal policy changes. Municipal officials have deferred responding, pending a discussion of “confidential advice of counsel regarding immigration directives and orders,” in a closed session scheduled on February 18, which took place after press time.

Resistencia en Acción NJ, a migrant justice organization with offices in Trenton and Princeton dedicated to defending and protecting the rights of immigrant communities in New Jersey, has been focusing on “Know Your Rights” workshops for recent immigrants.

“Knowledge is power and information keeps us standing,” the Resistencia Facebook page states. “Knowing our rights is our best defense. Raids and operations do not only affect one person, but our entire community. When we educate ourselves, we protect each other.”

Solidaridad Central Jersey is an organization that assists immigrant neighbors with applications for asylum, work permit applications, and finding an attorney. Two representative members from Solidaridad, who chose to remain anonymous, are confident that the law continues to grant people asylum in the United States.

“It sounds like the intent is to shut down asylums completely, but a 1980 law says the U.S. will be a place where you can get asylum,” one representative stated.

About four years ago, Solidaridad started a pro se clinic, a clinic for immigrants applying for asylum without the benefit of legal representation. There were more than 30 initial volunteers, mostly based in the Princeton area, and they met with community asylum seekers in the Witherspoon Presbyterian Church.

The volunteers form groups of three — an interpreter, an interviewer, and a note-taker/recorder, and they help the applicant to file the extensive application. “That’s the start on the neighbor’s asylum journey,” according to the Solidaridad representative.

The next step, which is permitted 150 days after the submission of the application for asylum, is filing an application for a work permit. Both representatives emphasized the worthiness of the applicants they have worked with.

“They are an amazing group of people,” one Solidaridad representative said. “They do so much in our community in terms of working and being an integral part of the community. They’re paying taxes. They’re remarkable. We are honored to meet with them and privileged to work with them to complete the applications.”

Solidaridad has expanded its outreach, from mostly in the Princeton Witherspoon-Jackson community to Trenton, throughout the state, and even referrals from across the country. There are currently more than 80 volunteers, with significant volunteer support coming from Princeton University and The College of New Jersey. They have filed more than 220 asylum applications over the past two years and even more work permit applications.

Solidaridad noted a significant increase in questions coming into their hotline over the past two or three months, with people expressing fear and doubt about what to do. “We try to keep our neighbors informed,” said one of the Solidaridad representatives. “We want them to be aware of their rights.”

Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF), based in Trenton, is another local organization providing major support for recent immigrants in Central New Jersey.

“As you can imagine, undocumented immigrants in our local communities are trying to better understand their rights and expedite their pathway to citizenship,” wrote LALDEF Executive Director Cecy Jiminez-Weeast in a January letter to LALDEF supporters. “They have questions, fears, and uncertainties regarding changes in United States immigration policies and procedures. And those changes are happening quickly.”

Jimenez-Weeast also focused on LALDEF’s role in helping recent immigrants to know their rights and understanding their options and responsibilities. “We are experiencing a significant influx of new inquiries, and we anticipate that demand will continue to increase in the weeks and months to come,” she wrote. “We expect this rapidly changing and highly politicized landscape to challenge us in ways we have not experienced in the past.”

In a follow-up email Jiminez-Weeast noted, “LALDEF is taking every measure possible to provide clarity, support, and assistance to those left most vulnerable. Local partners, including schools, law enforcement, and community organizations, have relied upon our services for many years, and they are calling upon us now to continue this crucial work throughout our community.”

In concluding her letter, Jiminez-Weeast highlighted LALDEF’s continuing work and goals. “We will continue to promote the rights of all immigrants, facilitate access to health care, education, and legal representation; advocate for the integration of immigrants; and foster inter-cultural communication because we know our impact is life-changing. And we know we only succeed by working together,” she wrote.