Equity, Diversity, Inclusion

The political machine touts Jersey City as the most diverse city in the nation, paying lip service while pushing black and brown communities and immigrant communities out with policies that have made Jersey City unaffordable for working families.

Ending the ICE Contract: Councilman Lavarro joined immigrant rights and community activists and called for Hudson County to end the immigrant detention contract with ICE and testified on record.

Stop Hate in Jersey City: In the wake of anti-immigrant attacks during the Trump administration, Councilman Lavarro pushed to establish Jersey City as a sanctuary city. Councilman Lavarro has worked with community activists to fight back forms of hate. He is part of a committee of grassroots organizers of the Jersey City AAPI Coalition, which led a #StopAsianHate rally on the steps of City Hall.

Immigrant Affairs Commission: Councilman Lavarro established the first commission of its kind in the State of New Jersey, making Jersey City – the most diverse city in the nation – the leader on diversity and inclusion issues throughout the state.

Tuition for DREAMers: Councilman Lavarro rallied the council to urge our New Jersey state legislators to support DREAMers to be eligible to receive financial aid and achieve their educational goals and dreams.

In times of great need: In the aftermath of one of the worst natural disasters in the Philippines, Typhoon Haiyan, Councilman Lavarro advocated on behalf of 20,000 Filipino Americans in Jersey City and urged U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to grant Philippine Nationals Temporary Protected Status (TPS). He also advocated for TPS for the people of Nepal who were affected by a devastating earthquake.