Gottheimer says he’ll fight for Latino New Jerseyans in Monday presser

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) was joined by Latino community leaders Monday morning to tout his support for the state’s Hispanic communities. 

In a Monday morning press conference at Extra Supermarket in Elizabeth, Gottheimer said his Lower Taxes, Lower Costs platform would help Latino and Hispanic New Jerseyans handle the state’s increasing costs. Gottheimer is one of several candidates looking to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy.

“Latinos across the state are in every industry, in every job, and every community,” Gottheimer said. “They own businesses of all sizes, help build and drive our economy, make our neighborhoods stronger, whether that’s as a small business owner, a police officer, or a teacher.”

Gottheimer said he would fight against President Donald Trump’s efforts to perform mass deportations of undocumented immigrants not accused of crimes, and said he supports the Immigrant Trust Directive, a policy established under the state attorney general’s office. New Jersey’s Immigrant Trust Directive bars officers from participating in federal immigration raids or arresting people solely due to their immigration status. The directive tries to ensure “victims and witnesses feel safe reporting crimes to local police without fear of deportation.”

Gottheimer told supporters he believes the Immigrant Trust Act, which would largely codify the Immigrant Trust Directive into law, should be amended to ensure undocumented immigrants who commit serious crimes can be deported.

Endorsers of Gottheimer on Monday include George Castro of the Hispanic American Political Action Committee, Lucilo Santos of the Dominican American Council of New Jersey, Norberto Curitumai of the Peruvian American Coalition of New Jersey, and Consuelo Carpenter of the Latino American Democratic Association of New Jersey.

“Josh is a fighter who will stand up to Donald Trump when he tries to round up innocent people at schools and churches and businesses across New Jersey, so that New Jersey continues to be a place of hope, not fear,” said Tony Villalobos of the Salvadorian Leadership group. “He’s going to lower taxes and costs, and he’ll stop Jersey from nickel and diming us every way they can.”