Statement of the New Jersey Harvest Movement in front of the ruling against law AB 5207
The following statement was published by COSECHA on its Facebook Page on July 21.
The ruling of the Court of Appeals of the Third Circuit nullifying the law AB 5207 confirms what we already know: the fight has to come from the bottom. We cannot expect justice from a system that systematically excludes us.
AB 5207 was a law democratically adopted to protect the dignity and safety of our communities. It did not prevent ICE from detaining people, it just stated that neither the State of New Jersey nor the private prisons within it should participate in civil detention of immigrants. It was a legitimate expression of the state’s right to decide how to use its territory and what practices it considers unacceptable.
Judge Thomas Ambro, in his dissenting opinion, made it clear: using federal immunity to overturn this law is like “using a hammer to screw a screw.” If Congress wants to authorize contracts with private prisons, they should explicitly do so. But courts cannot be allowed to impose that authority over valid state laws.
Delaney Hall’s case has demonstrated the harm private detention causes: inhumane conditions, medical negligence, and profit at the expense of suffering. New Jersey did the right thing by saying “NO” to this industry that turns separating families into a business.
This ruling represents unjustified interference with state sovereignty and puts corporate profits above human life. It allows companies like CoreCivic to continue to profit from mass detention, ignoring the will of the people.
From Harvest Movement NJ, we don’t hold back. We are not intimidated by this decision. We continue to fight for every family separated, for every criminalized worker to seek a dignified life.
Our demand is clear: Respect, Dignity and Permanent Protection!
We don’t accept cages or dirty contracts. As long as there is a single immigrant detained or living in fear, we will continue to organize, resist and disobey.
As we already did it in different ways and actions such as hunger strikes inside detention centers, and with families fighting outside with courage and dignity, we will do it again. We will not rest until we close every center, break every contract with ICE and build a future where our communities live free.
The fight continues and growing!
We are not invisible, we are not disposable, we are the people!
Abolish ICE! Screw the migration!
If you want and can contribute to the fight click on this link. Many Thanks! 
