Guadagno’s racist ad

After seeing her new campaign ad, I cannot understand why Kim Guadagno would blatantly lie the way she did.

When anyone is arrested in NJ for a felony or DUI charge, whether they are documented or undocumented, they will have their immigration status checked along with all other documentation required for processing. Sanctuary or Fair and Welcoming city/town designations cannot change that.

Sanctuary or Fair and Welcoming city/town designations can be non-binding resolutions of welcome to immigrants, which do not have any legal repercussions. If written as a Police General Order, they can give the local police the ability to take information from immigrants about crimes committed against themselves or against others. The police departments in such towns have stated that public recognition that those departments are not performing ICE and other federal immigration authority functions improves their communication with immigrant communities, thus facilitating effective law enforcement and public safety.

The lies from this ad may gain Guadagno a few votes from people who are blinded by the fear she has created. But the long term effects will be to increase tensions that have already risen because of the president and to further target hate towards marginalized communities. I am extremely disappointed by the Guadagno campaign.

— Ayesha Mughal