As we move forward in 2025, CATA remains focused on advocating for policies that directly impact immigrant communities and working-class families. This has already been a year of challenges, but we continue to elevate the needs of our community and fight for the rights and respect they deserve. Here’s a recap of what we’ve been up to.
Fighting for the Immigrant Trust Act
On February 21, we joined a statewide effort to push for the Immigrant Trust Act, visiting legislators in District 3 (Glassboro, NJ) and District 1 (Cape May Courthouse). This bill is essential to ensuring that immigrants and their families feel safe and can trust law enforcement and public agencies without fear of retaliation or deportation. Passing this legislation is a necessary step forward in ensuring that immigrants can seek healthcare, education, and other critical resources without the risk of immigration enforcement.
If you want to learn more about the Immigrant Trust Act and how you can get involved, check out this link.
Advocating for Heat Protections for Workers
"I was a farmworker. I know the struggles firsthand." - Edgar Aquino Huerta, CATA Organizer
Farmworkers are at the core of our food system, yet they continue to work under hazardous conditions, especially in extreme heat. On March 6, CATA testified in support of NJ A5022, a bill that would establish critical heat protections for workers across New Jersey and the critical need to make sure that farmworkers are protected by the same standards as every other worker.
I had the honor of reading the testimony of Edgar Aquino-Huerta, our Worker Organizer in New Jersey, who spent years working under scorching conditions without proper protections. His experience speaks to the urgent need for legislation that ensures no worker has to risk their health just to earn a living.
New Jersey must implement a heat standard to protect workers from heat-related injuries, especially as climate change intensifies extreme temperatures. We continue to push for stronger workplace protections, and we need your help. Join us in this fight to demand that farmworkers receive the safety measures they deserve! Send a message to your NJ legislator here.
Legal Battle for Farmworker Wage Protections
For far too long, farmworkers in New Jersey have been wrongfully denied equal pay and overtime protections, leaving them vulnerable to economic exploitation. That’s why CATA, alongside Seton Hall Law School Center for Social Justice and the ACLU, filed a lawsuit in August 2024 challenging these unjust labor exclusions.
On March 14, 2025, Judge Bartels of the Mercer County Superior Court heard oral arguments on the state's motion to dismiss this lawsuit, a motion that we believe to be unfounded. As the Judge stated at the end of the hearing, he intends to issue a written opinion soon on this motion.
We remain committed to this legal fight to ensure farmworkers are treated with the same dignity and fairness as all other workers in the state.
Take Action!
These past months have reinforced the power of collective action, but we need your support to keep this momentum going. If you want to join our advocacy efforts contact me, Meghan Hurley, CATA’s Policy and Advocacy Organizer, at mhurley@cata-farmworkers.org to learn more and get involved.
CATA is led by immigrants working together to fight for change. We recognize the strength and resilience of our community, and we will keep pushing for policies that protect the dignity, well-being, and future of immigrant and working-class families.
Together, we can fight for justice and dignity for all workers!
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