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In an op/ed calling for the protection of the working poor, HDANJ executive director Daniel Santo Pietro wrote, "In our rush to debate these important and substantial issues let us not forget those who may suffer the most as a result of these proposals: the Working Poor. The sacrifices will be substantial for all of us, but without some modifications the greatest financial hardship will be borne by those struggling to feed and clothe their families."

To read more, click here.

In a op/ed arguing the need to address immigration issues in New Jersey, Daniel Santo Pietro, executive director of the Hispanic Directors Association, asked, “In the aftermath of a divisive congressional debate over immigration reform, immigrant families across New Jersey and the United States are asking themselves, ‘Where do we go from here?’”

See published version in the Burlington County Times, the Home News Tribune on Aug. 14, 2007, The Herald News on Aug. 12, 2007, The Asbury Park Press on Aug. 10, 2007 and The Daily Journal on Aug. 9, 2007.


September 20, 2006 - OP-ED: Deception by Headline - The Case of North Hudson Community Action Corporation

February 2006 - OP-ED: Governing New Jersey as One Community

May 2, 2007 – Press Release: Latino Organizations Release Immigration Report on “Broken Immigration System”  

February 22, 2007 - Press Release: HDANJ Praises Governor Corzine for Strengthening Anti-Poverty Programs 

February 12, 2007 - Press Release: Our Children/Our Schools Praises Governor Corzine on Delaying Quick Decision on School Funding Formula 

January 22, 2007 - Press Release: Education Summit Critical to Protect Educational Programs for Latino Children 

January 8, 2007 - Press Release: HDANJ Awarded Contract to Increase Latino Involvement in State Labor Training Program 

December 18, 2006 - Press Release: HDANJ Issues Report on Mental Health for Latinos Noting Few Improvements in State System  

June 21, 2006 - Press Release: HDANJ announces support FY07 budget principles  

February 3, 2006 - Press Release: HDANJ endorses Kevin Ryan for DHS Commissioner  

January 23, 2006 - Testimony: HDANJ supports Zulima Farber as Attorney General 


Click here to view archived press releases and testimonies by HDANJ.

Immigrants play vital role in NJ'S Economy.pdf

Wanda Ortiz, acting executive director of ASPIRA of New Jersey, which provides work-readiness skills to Hispanic youth statewide, including in Atlantic City and Vineland, said solving these (labor) problems now will make for a smoother future for the younger generation.

Gaining work and literacy skills is "extremely important because a lot of them are the first to go on to college," she said. "They feel a responsibility to improve."
--The Press of Atlantic City, October 17, 2007. To read full article, click here.


"My center in Camden sees a lot of immigrants coming in on a daily basis. We serve about 7,000 individuals a year and many of them are immigrants," said Elsa Candelario, executive director of the Hispanic Family Center of Southern New Jersey in Camden.

"I'm pleased Governor Corzine thinks it's time to pull together a group with these resources that will focus explicitly on immigration," she said. To read full article, click here.


"What I don't want is a panel that will produce a report and not do anything more," said Daniel Santo-Pietro, executive director of the Hispanic Directors Association of New Jersey. "The state needs to take steps that fill gaps and that will make things better for immigrants."
–The Bergen Record, August 3, 2007. To read full article, click here. 

“These raids are done in front of children, who see their parents handcuffed and taken away, “said Daniel Santo Pietro, head of the Hispanic Directors Association of New Jersey. “Most of these people are not criminals; they’re people who tried to legalize their status and either because their lawyers didn’t do something right,. Or they were misguided by one of the many scammers who take advantage of immigrants, had their applications denied and were ordered deported.”… “The majority are not the criminals and terrorists that ICE says they‘re targeting with these raids... they’re laborers, hardworking people.”
–The Bergen Record, June 5, 2007.


“It’s really a take of two cities, to quote Dickens,” said Frank Argote-Freyre, a Kean University professor. “Here in Hightstown, Mayor (Robert) Patten has embraced the Latino community. In Morristown, Mayor (Donald) Cresitello has taken a different approach.”

“America has to deal with the fact that immigrants are not going to go away, no matter how many fences you build and families you destroy,” said Patricia Fernandez-Kelly, a Princeton University professor and chair of the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund. “If not for immigrants, this country wouldn’t have enough people to fill jobs.”

–The Times of Trenton, May 3, 2007.

“This complicated problem should not be addressed piecemeal at the local level,” said Brendan Gilfillan, a spokesman for the governor. “This effort to deputize police to enforce federal immigration laws is not comprehensive immigration reform and, by undermining the critical trust communities must have with law enforcement, will actually hinder our law enforcement.”

“I believe in fairness for everybody,” said Hightstown Mayor Robert Patten. “I carried it to the political arena.”

Daniel Santo Pietro, executive director of HDA, said Cresitello uses “distortion to support his position.”

“The fact is they are doing a very arbitrary job…and it’s destroying families,” he said.

–Daily Record, May 3, 2007


“If there was strong state leadership and strong state guidance, that would short-circuit a lot of these mayoral actions,” said Daniel Santo Pietro, the Hispanic Directors Association’s executive director.
–The Herald News, May 3, 2007.