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Dems in NJ feuding over whether 3 Dem counties should continue to jail immigrants for ICE thru big $ contracts. THREAD: Last month Dem Hudson County exec @TomDeGise & freeholders gave ICE a 10-year extension. Now @SenatorMenendez--a Hudson County Dem--calls that "blood money" 1/
. @CoryBooker had told me last year, thru a spox, that Dems should end contracts ( https://gothamist.com/news/booker-nj-democratic-allies-end-your-ice-detention-contracts-now). But now he's getting more detailed, saying detention "perpetuate[s] dangerous & dehumanizing immigration enforcement," and NJ counties shouldn't "enter" contracts. 2/
Booker doesn't call for Hudson, Essex & Bergen counties' detention contracts to be cancelled, which they could be. Still, county-level Democrats are incensed at the public rebuke from Booker and Menendez. Hudson Freeholder Vainieri says it's "infuriating," via @HeinisHardNews: 3/
Thing is, when Booker ran with Hudson County Dems last month, Vainieri et al were still planning to end contract by 12/31/20. Hudson switched positions, suddenly, 2 weeks ago. And tho Vainieri says activists don't speak for most, all 150+ who spoke at meeting opposed contract. 4/
Here's a thread from @mrjoeltorres, one of the 3 freeholders who voted against Hudson's ICE contract. He said he was blindsided to even find it on the agenda for the meeting. https://twitter.com/mrjoeltorres/status/1335285473393192962 5/
So why did Dems have this change of heart on ICE detention at the county jail? New explanation from @TomDeGise, that the ICE money "helps pay the salary of over 3,000 county employees" & county programs. Note: No financial analysis has ever been released.6/ https://www.nj.com/hudson/2020/12/booker-and-menendez-come-out-against-county-ice-contracts-while-hudson-county-officials-stand-by-their-deal.html
So far @SenatorMenendez has last word. He pushes back on the Democratic Hudson County leaders -- his home base! -- in this statement, saying they "chose to ignore the fierce objections of county residents." The public nature of this feud is unusual. 7/
Meanwhile anti-ICE activists are activated. County Exec @TomDeGise had protesters outside his house in Jersey City, and called the cops. And @AmyTorresNJ filed charges against Freeholder Anthony Romano for pushing her during a protest at his fundraiser: https://www.nj.com/hudson/2020/12/2-protesters-file-complaints-against-hudson-county-freeholder-after-alleged-shove-at-his-fundraiser.html 8/
Background--> This story I did in 2018 shows how Democratic counties of Essex, Bergen and Hudson were making bank off ICE thanks to Trump: https://www.wnyc.org/story/under-trump-liberal-new-jersey-counties-cash-in-detaining-immigrants/
And here's my story last month on Hudson approving ICE's new 10-year detention contract: https://gothamist.com/news/nj-democrats-reverse-stance-reject-residents-pleas-and-vote-to-continue-jailing-nyc-immigrants 9/
And here's my story last month on Hudson approving ICE's new 10-year detention contract: https://gothamist.com/news/nj-democrats-reverse-stance-reject-residents-pleas-and-vote-to-continue-jailing-nyc-immigrants 9/
Classic pugnacious Jersey/Hudson County talk here from Dem county executive, saying "this is MY party." Of ICE Protesters, he says: “I’m the nicest guy in the world, but if you want to pick a fight with me, you won’t have to look hard. I’ll be here.” 10/ https://www.tapinto.net/towns/jersey-city/sections/government/articles/fiery-week-indicates-tensions-over-hudson-county-ice-contract-show-no-signs-of-cooling
