Faced with the inability of the federal legislature to undertake immigration reform at a national level, along with the anti-immigrant attitude of some local governments, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine decided to take action to protect immigrants.

Corzine signed an executive order [on August 6], establishing the Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy, which will develop recommendations to undertake strategic and coherent policies on a state level and will allow the successful integration of all of the immigrants in the state.

“For years, the state of New Jersey has been the gateway to our nation, a place of opportunities and new beginnings,” Corzine said. “Today, we are taking an important step in the creation of a state strategy with a comprehensive policy that will help weave immigrants into the economic, social and civic fabric of our communities and state.”

The Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel on Immigrant Policy is in charge of examining several areas of importance for the immigrant population in New Jersey, such as education, civil status, civil rights, fair housing, medical care, language learning, and skills training. Heading the panel will be Public Advocate Ron Chen, a child of Chinese immigrants, who will submit a report on achievements and recommendations to the governor 15 months after its first official meeting.

Senator Ronald Rice, president of the African-American Caucus of the state legislature, and part of the commission, said, “When people come to this country, often under duress, they need a place to live and a way to provide needed health care for their families. But immigrants also need to be treated with respect and be granted the basic human rights associated with the dignity of living in America. We are still a nation of immigrants and we can never forget that. It’s time to ensure justice for immigrants who often find the path to citizenship marked with violent attacks, job discrimination and inequality.”

Assemblyman Joe Vas (D-Middlesex), who is also the mayor of Perth Amboy and represents the Latino Caucus, said, “Undocumented residents have come to be an incredibly important part of the economy of our nation, and they deserve to be treated in a respectful and reasonable way.”

The governor’s executive order authorizes the Advisory Panel to consult with any department, office, division or state agency to provide it with information, staff or any other kind of assistance available, and that the panel sees as necessary to complete its work. Once the commission begins its research in areas like agricultural work – or driver’s license for immigrants – the panel will consult with the experts.

“The creation of the panel certainly shows the governor’s commitment to assure that residents can enjoy the same opportunities of richness, culture, and diversity in the state,” said Chen. “I share that commitment and I feel honored to be part of this effort. At a state level, we should work together to develop policies and programs that facilitate the integration of our newest residents into our communities, thus aiding our economic growth, improving our social networks, and enriching our cultural community.”

The Advisory Panel will consist of 27 members. The 18 public members will represent widely the following topics and groups: civil rights, business, community organizations, education, religious organizations, organizations interested in immigration, labor, and service providers.

The African-American and Latino committees of the state legislature will each select a representative as a member of the Advisory Panel. The attorney general, the commissioners of the Departments of Children and Families, Education, Health and Senior Services, Human Services, Labor and Labor Force Development, and the public defender or his representative, will serve as ex-officio members.

The panel’s vacancies will be filled the same way that the nominations were originally made.