A hearing on a resolution opposing a ‘Sanctuary State’ policy at the Toms River Township council meeting. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
During a meeting which quickly devolved into volleys of insults being lobbed at Toms River Township council members, protesters chanting and banging on chairs and the threat to remove some attendees from the room, the governing body passed a resolution to formally oppose Gov. Phil Murphy and Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal’s Immigrant Trust Directive, which has earned New Jersey the designation of a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants.
The protesters, about half from Toms River but mostly from out-of-town, organized on the internet prior to the meeting and came with signs and chants ready. They frequently chastised council members for even considering the resolution, and implied frequently that Toms River would be considered a racist community if the resolution passed.
One activist had an ominous message: “Your pictures are out there,” she said to council members. “We know who you are.”
The resolution has no legal standing. It does not allow Toms River to opt out of the statewide directive. But it does signify opposition in the state’s largest suburban municipality, and articulates support for Ocean County’s pending federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the policy.
Sprinkled amidst a night otherwise marked by incivility were some local residents who made impassioned arguments against the resolution. One such resident, Jazmine Warren, a High School South senior, said she has been the victim of name-calling in her school because of her conservative views. But on this issue, she was taking the opposing point of view.
“Civility in discussing uncomfortable topics … is almost non-existent among my peer group,” she said, asking the council to reconsider their resolution. “It diminishes who we are as a people.”
Joseph Champagne, the former mayor of South Toms River, told council members that his native country of Haiti has an open-door policy for refugees, including Jews escaping the Nazis during the Holocaust.
“Haiti was a sanctuary nation for all those who were oppressed, including the Jewish people back in the 1940s when they were being attacked by Hitler,” he said. “That’s what human beings do.”
Others who stood in opposition were not as restrained. One man, Dan Cummings, of Brick, called ICE agents “incompetent and cruel” while excoriating the council for choosing to take a stance on the sanctuary issue.
“Xenophobic resolutions passed by this council will not make the community more safe, it will make it less safe,” Cummings said.
The public comment period on the resolution eventually turned more ferocious, with some protesters even taking issue with the Toms River township seal, which includes the silhouette of a Native American man.
“It’s not politically correct,” one woman said, after delving into gun control and other issues unrelated to the resolution.
Another protester targeted American children, saying they do not study as hard as their immigrant counterparts, instead opting to choose video games. Her reasoning was that immigrant children are deserving of taxpayer-funded state college tuition. Many commenters told council members that Toms River could be perceived as a racist community if the resolution passed.
A hearing on a resolution opposing a ‘Sanctuary State’ policy at the Toms River Township council meeting. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
When it came time for a vote, Councilman Terrance Turnbach motioned to vote against the resolution. He and Councilwoman Laurie Huryk, the governing body’s only two Democratic members, voted in favor of crushing the resolution. Four Republican members of the council disagreed, with one, Councilwoman Maria Maruca, abstaining.
“I had asked that this resolution regarding the attorney general’s directive be removed from the agenda because it has no legal impact to Toms River,” said Turnbach. “The council voted, probably, what would bring them support politically rather than what’s in their hearts. Our job is not to get re-elected, it’s to do the township’s business, and we’re not doing it.”
The next motion was to pass the resolution, prompting protesters to chant and bang on chairs to drown out the vote. Once order was restored, the vote was taken and the resolution passed in a 4-2 vote.
Republican council members expressed dissatisfaction with Murphy’s immigration policies, which this year included about $3.8 million in direct taxpayer-funded payments for legal aid services for illegal immigrants.
“Toms River is losing aid, Brick is losing aid, and it’s going to programs for illegal immigrants,” said Councilman Maurice “Mo” Hill, a candidate for Toms River mayor this year.
Councilman George Wittmann said the sanctuary policies could also lead to illegal immigrants obtaining drivers’ licenses, which he opposes.
“We have to present six forms of identification to even quality for a license,” he said.
For his part, Jonathan Petro, the Democratic mayoral candidate, issued a short statement on the vote.
“If I am elected mayor, Toms River won’t be a sanctuary city,” he said.
