“Say it once, say it twice! We will not put up with ICE,” protesters chanted as they marched on Grove Street earlier this month. The youth-led protest, “ICE OUT Jersey City,” called for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid recent raids in the neighborhood.

Janhitha Veeramachanen, a lifelong Jersey resident and freshman at Barnard College, was the first to speak at City Hall that day. She stood among a strong presence of prominent politicians in the fiery crowd, including assembly members and state senators.

“We want a country where no young person has to choose between their voice and their family’s security,” Veeramachanen said.

Veeramachanen was just one of many South Asian youth activists at the protests led by several groups, including Climate Revolution Action Network and South Asians for America (SAFA) — a grassroots organization mobilizing the Desi community nationwide.

New Jersey Desis have been at the forefront of the fight to protect immigrants in the state, and their presence was felt at the protest. Democratic Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla of Hoboken, who has introduced legislation allowing residents to sue federal immigration officials for unconstitutional conduct, spoke. So did Democratic State Sen. Raj Mukherji, who pushed for stronger legal protections for immigrants.

Alongside protests and advocacy, Desi leaders in New Jersey are also meeting with community members to learn about ICE activities and raise awareness of their rights.

Jersey City has one of the largest Desi populations in the state. South Asians make up nearly 5% of New Jersey’s population — a greater percentage than in any other state.

While many Desis in New Jersey are documented, not all are, and even those with legal permits to live here are on edge. New Jersey is home to many of the the approximately 1.7 million undocumented Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants in the U.S.

Veeramachanen told Central Desi there is an atmosphere of fear in the community ever since ICE agents made arrests at the light rail station in Hoboken on Feb. 1.

“It became real for me when my classmate’s grandmother suddenly got very sick, and the family hesitated to call 911 because they were afraid it might bring attention to their immigration status, even though they were here on a work visa,” she said in an interview.

Her family, too, has stopped celebrating festivals together like before, despite holding legal papers.

“For years, we gathered as a group, but now, we don’t want that kind of attention,” Veeramachanen said.

At the protest, another student activist spoke about the growing fear in the community. Vidhi Mehrotra, whose parents immigrated to New Jersey from India before she was born, told the crowd she was taking her economics midterm when she received a notification that ICE had detained a fellow Columbia student from the university apartment.

“I couldn’t help but feel fear for her family, for her roommate who spoke to the press, for her community. Young people fear they will be ripped away from a school and a country they trusted. This issue targets all of us,” Mehrotra said.

Politicians then took the stage, urging the state government to do more to protect residents from federal enforcement actions.

Bhalla addressed the “Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered Act” or F**K ICE Act 2026, which he co-sponsored with Democratic Assemblywoman Katie Brennan of Jersey City in February, following the rail station arrests.

“We’re coming close to the milestone, but we have to keep on going to protect people who are subject to violent orders of deportation, and those who are arrested. These are human stories, these are real people. This matters, this really matters,” he said to loud cheers.

Mukherji, whose two kids accompanied him on stage, called on Gov. Mikie Sherrill to codify the immigrant trust directive, which prohibits law enforcement from questioning, detaining, or arresting someone solely based on their race or immigration status.

“This is not the America that any of us deserve,” he said. “Love will win over this hate.”

Sherrill has already taken some measures. In February, she signed an executive order to prevent ICE raids on state property unless they are authorized by a judicial warrant.

Community organizations aren’t waiting for the state to act. SAFA Chair Parul Khemka, based in Livingston, has been hosting virtual “Know Your Rights” sessions for New Jersey residents. She covers the rights residents have under the Constitution and what steps to take if they are confronted by an ICE agent.

Paralegal Nerisha Bedi helped launched the New Jersey chapter of Hindus for Human Rights, a nonprofit advocating for civil rights in South Asia and the U.S. from a secular Hindu perspective.

She has been meeting with faith leaders at temples, mosques, churches, and gurudwaras across Jersey City to discuss ICE activities and inform them about immigrants’ rights, as many immigrants have been turning to places of worship for support.

“Meaningful change has never come from silence,” she said.

Navya Asopa is a 2025-26 reporting fellow at Central Desi and a freelance journalist based in New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on labor, immigration, and India-U.S. relations. She recently graduated from Columbia University with a master's in investigative journalism.

March 19 – Eid Night Bazaar
8 PM - 12 AM
Islamic Center of Passaic County
152 Derrom Ave
Paterson, NJ 07011
Join us as we welcome Eid with a night dedicated to youth programs! The Islamic Center of Passaic County will host an Eid Night Bazaar, transforming ICPC into a vibrant marketplace featuring food, sweets, coffee, and merchandise stalls. Enjoy a festive atmosphere with exciting activities for all ages.

March 20 – Desi Comedy Fest
Starts at 8 PM
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center
11 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Desi Comedy Fest is the Biggest South Asian Comedy Festival in America. The festival has been featured on NBC and Just For Laughs and has partnered with Times of India, Zee TV, and Radio Mirchi. The New Jersey show brings together comedians from across the South Asian diaspora. The lineup includes Jersey's own Danish Maqbool (RAMY on Hulu), Zubi Ahmed (Cracked Comedy), Ali Mehedi (Laughing Lassi), Richard Sarvate (Dry Bar Comedy), Samson Koletkar (NBC), and Abhay Nadkarni (Just for Laughs).

Buy tickets here. There’s a special discount for Central Desi readers: Get 15% off for pairs and 25% off for groups of four.

March 21 – Rang De Basanti: A Grand Holi Celebration
11 AM - 4 PM
Parlor Banquet
2863 Woodbridge Avenue
Edison, NJ 08837
Celebrate Holi outdoors with colors, Bollywood beats, and spring vibes. Dress in white, dance under the sky, and make unforgettable memories. Buy tickets here.

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