NJ 10 Assemblyman Paul Kanitra Hosts Rally Against Illegal Immigration Monday In Trenton

MANASQUAN, NJ — Paul Kanitra, the former mayor of Point Pleasant and now the Republican Assemblyman representing NJ's 10th Assembly district, will lead a rally against illegal immigration March 23, on the steps of the New Jersey Statehouse.

"You generally only see protests from the other side," Kanitra told Patch Thursday. "I don't think there are enough opportunities to speak up for people with opposing views. I want people to understand what's going on in our Statehouse."

Democratic lawmakers in Trenton have introduced a series of bills that will strengthen protections for undocumented immigrants in New Jersey, and curb the power ICE agents have to operate in the state.

The first bill is A4071, which codifies the Immigrant Trust Directive, a directive from the New Jersey Attorney General that limits how much local and state police can cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The second, A4070, is called the “Privacy Protection Act” and it would prevent a government agency from asking someone's immigration status. And the third, A1743, would restrict ICE agents from wearing masks under certain circumstances.

Kanitra said he plans to vote against all three, plus several other bills currently in Trenton that protect immigrants.

Kanitra said the proposed laws "only encourage New Jersey's sanctuary state status."

"All three bills encourage people to break the law," he said. "They are going to incentivize the continuation of illegal crossings to happen ... And what's lost in all of this is how unfair this is to legal immigrants. This is an affront to everyone who did it the right way. All we're doing is showing people you can skip the line and get rewarded. The Democrats have created the chaos."

There will be a number of speakers at his rally, including Agnes Gibboney and Anne Fundner. Gibboney's son, Ronald da Silva, was killed by a Mexican national who had a long criminal record and previously been deported but re-entered the country. This is the story of his murder she gave in testimony before Congress in support of President Trump's border wall with Mexico. Fundner's 15-year-old son died of a fentanyl overdose, and she often speaks about the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs being illegally trafficked across U.S. borders.

Alex Bougher of Moms for Liberty, Jarrett Branch from Turning Point USA, plus conservative news personalities Matt Rooney (he writes SaveJersey.com) and Mike Currie of Wake Up NJ podcast will also speak.

"There would not be a need for heavy-handed tactics (by ICE) if people had not broken the law in the first place, or if there were not sanctuary state policies already existing in New Jersey," Kanitra said Thursday.

New Jersey's 10th Assembly district is a Republican-majority district covering Monmouth and Ocean counties. Kanitra represents the towns of Bay Head, Brick, Brielle, Island Heights, Lavallette, Manasquan, Mantoloking, Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant Beach, Sea Girt, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, South Toms River, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Toms River.