Overcrowding crisis: Should N.J overrule voters, approve $33M school expansion?

FREEHOLD — The sign that hangs above the door says “library.” But students at Park Avenue Elementary School don’t come here to check out books. The room has been overtaken, repurposed into seven miniature and makeshift classrooms partitioned only by thin, 6-foot temporary dividers. Students learning English as their second language sit between those dividers, meeting… Read the rest of this entry »

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Cinco de Donald: A MexiCan Celebration

Updated with video

When Leo Cervantes is confronted by a difficult circumstance, he looks for the opportunity it presents.

When the waters of Superstorm Sandy receded from Highlands, Cervantes and his staff at Chilango’s recovered the non-spoiled inventory from their destroyed Bay Avenue restaurant and invited the entire town to a free dinner that they prepared and served at Henry Hudson Regional High School which was serving as a shelter for hundreds of residents displaced by the storm.

When Donald Trump disparaged Mexicans during his presidential candidacy announcement last week, Leo, who immigrated from Neza, a tough town outside of Mexico City in 1989 and became a naturalized United States citizen in 2008, shook off the insult and created an opportunity.

Sunday, July 5th is Cinco de Donald at Leo’s two Monmouth County Mexican restaurants, Chilango’s in Highlands and the newly opened LaPlaya in Keansburg.

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Conservative Republicans Resist Boehner’s Plan to Avoid Budget Fight

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, holds a news conference in Washington September 9, 2014. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Conservative Republicans on Wednesday resisted a plan to avert a budget fight over President Barack Obama’s immigration order, raising the likelihood that the spending struggle in Congress could last right up to the Dec. 11 deadline for a government shutdown. Tea Party lawmakers stood firm against House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner’s plan… Read the rest of this entry »

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Five Questions After Obama’s Immigration Speech

President Obama has laid out his immigration executive order. He’s delivered his webcast announcing his speech. He’s delivered his primetime speech and, on Friday, he flies to Las Vegas to give another speech and sign the order. It’s a journey just to get it out the door. So now what? We don’t know what the political… Read the rest of this entry »

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Would an Obama immigration order be on firm legal ground?

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Casa Freehold Director: There is no influx of Central American Youth in Freehold

Rita Dentino, Executive Director of Casa Freehold

Rita Dentino, Executive Director of Casa Freehold said her comments reported in the Sentinel and other Greater Media newspapers regarding a steady stream of unaccompanied Central American Youth arriving in Freehold Borough were not reported accurately.  MMM relied on those reports earlier this week when reporting on the situation and  State Senator Jennifer Beck’s response.

During an interview in her Freehold office, Dentino said that to her knowledge there has been only one refugee child, a 16 year old boy, that has arrived in Freehold from Central America since the first of the year and that there is no parade of children arriving at a rate of one per day.  The Sentinel reported that Dentino said there were 5-10 young refugees in the Borough and that more were arriving daily.  Denton told MMM that the 5-10 figure represents all young Central American youth that have come to Freehold over the last 11 years that she has worked at Casa Freehold, not a recent influx due to the situation on the United States’ southern border.

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Unaccompanied Central American Children Showing Up In Freehold

Read this update: CASA FREEHOLD DIRECTOR: There is no influx on Central American Youth in Freehold

Senator Jennifer Beck working with federal officials and Governor to handle the crisis

Between 5 and 10 Central American children, ages 11-16, who have crossed our borders without adults have found their way to Freehold Borough, according to a statement by Rita Dentino, Director of Casa Freehold, an immigrants rights organization that helps newly arrived immigrants integrate into the community.

Dentino said that more children are arriving everyday, according to a report in the Sentinal.

State Senator Jennifer Beck issued a statement today saying she is working with federal and state officials to secure funding to deal with the situation and to evaluate New Jersey’s legal options and obligations.

“This is an issue with far ranging implications that is being experienced all across the country. I am working closely with federal representatives and the Governor’s Office to fully understand our legal options and obligations. I am hopeful that money will come from the federal government as part of an overall response to this issue. There are real humanitarian, fiscal and capacity concerns so all decisions must be fully vetted. I will continue to communicate openly with local officials to keep all appraised of our progress.”

Published reports indicate that over 1,500 Central American children have arrived in New Jersey.  The federal government operates only one 10 bed facility in the State, and none of the children are housed there.

Dentino told the Sentinal that she would be contacting DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services) to begin the process of finding the children guardians.

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Pandering Pallone Lies About U.S. Soccer Team To Boost Amnesty

New Jersey’s truth challenged Congressman Frank Pallone took to twitter last evening to garner support of the Amnesty Bill he’s sponsoring in the House of Representatives.

Thanks to the folks at Twitchy who researched the World Cup players that Pallone dubbed as immigrants:

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Immigrants in the country illegally could legally drive in NJ under bill

Immigrants in the country illegally could legally drive in NJ under bill (via NJ.com)

TRENTON — A new effort is underway in the state Legislature to allow unauthorized immigrants to legally drive in New Jersey, setting up what could be the next state debate over immigration policy. Under the measure, New Jersey would be required to…

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Christie to Dreamers: You are an inspiration

Governor Chris Christie held a ceremonial signing of the Dream Act, legislation that gives the children of illegal immigrants in-state tuition rates at New Jersey’s state colleges and universities, this morning in Union City.

The following videos are excerpted from his remarks.

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