Gov. Christie’s decree that New Jersey will be closed to Syrian refugees has been met with some criticism, including from the clergy. “He has no power to say what he’s saying, no power,” said the Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale of the Reformed Church in Highland Park. Kaper-Dale added that “a governor cannot tell us who we can let into this state or not. That’s not his right.”

Kaper-Dale has a long track record of helping refugees of all sorts find food and shelter in New Jersey. He points out that because of the time it takes to immigrate to the United States, any Syrian refugee would likely have begun his trek long before ISIS became an organized force.

Christie joined 30 other governors on Monday — all Republican except one — in saying that their states won’t accept refugees from Syria. This came as a response to French authorities saying that one of the Paris terrorists had used fake Syrian credentials to get into France.

Chasing News

Interfaith-RISE is a program of the Reformed Church of Highland Park Affordable Housing corporation, a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization that provides affordable housing, supportive services, and connection to meaningful community to low-income individuals and families in central New Jersey. All RCHP-AHC projects are non-discriminatory and are open to the public. Learn more at rchp-ahc.org.

Office Locations

Highland Park Office:
19 S. 2nd Ave
Highland Park, NJ 08904
732-357-0590

I-RISE South Office:

2384 E. Landis Ave
Vineland, NJ 08361
732-357-0590