IRATE (the Interfaith Refugee Action Team - Elizabeth) is an alliance of grassroots organizations, located in the Metro New York-New Jersey area, whose members believe that the current U.S. policy of detaining noncriminal asylum seekers and undocumented economic refugees in prison-like conditions is contrary to our tradition of welcoming refugees. Currently in New Jersey, the Bureau of Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE), has some 300 people detained at the Elizabeth Detention Center in Elizabeth, NJ, and an unknown number of people in county jails throughout the state.
Members of IRATE seek to change the U.S. policy of imprisoning noncriminal asylum seekers and economic refugees through education and advocacy. We also try to provide support and welcome by training volunteers to visit those held in detention. And, we work with the Bergen County Sanctuary Committee to provide community-based alternatives to detention.
webmaster@irateweb.org