December 26, 2011 - In the wake of Alabama’s new anti-immigration law, there are new reports that agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been making terrorizing raids on north Alabama families that undermine federal efforts to protect the civil rights of the state’s Latino community.
According to a press release issued by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a non-profit civil rights organization that is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and seeks to implement justice for society’s most vulnerable, agents have allegedly been threatening children and terrorizing families throughout the state.
SPLC has urged the Department of Homeland Security to end the raids.
A Plea for Help to Homeland Security
The SPLC sent a letter urging that the raids be stopped immediately to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, after the SPLC had been informed that armed ICE agents had been entering the homes of Latino families living in a mobile park in Collinsville and Fort Payne.
According to witness reports the ICE agents were entering homes without permission and interrogating young children.
In addition to urging that such threatening and forceful raids be stopped, the letter also asked for there to be a formal investigation conducted into the civil rights violations that may have taken place during the raids, which are a result of the state’s anti-immigration law, HB 56.
Prior to the letter, Napolitano had written a statement that the Department of homeland Security would not be assisting Alabama in enforcing the HB 56 law.
“Alabama’s Latino community has already been devastated by HB 56, and many Latinos who have not left the state are living in terror,” Mary Bauer, the SPLC Legal Director wrote in the press release. Bauer continued:
“These raids profoundly undermine the federal government’s substantial efforts to reassure people that they still have civil rights and that the federal government is committed to protecting them. They are terrorizing a community living in fear and chaos.”
Illegal Raids and Threatening American Children
Making illegal raids, threatening to arrest children – who incidentally are U.S. citizens – if they did not reveal their parent’s whereabouts, terrorizing families, and arresting people who happened to be in the vicinity, is blatantly unacceptable behaviour.
It is behavior that marginalizes immigrants further, and does little to tackle the problem of immigration, as Dan Werner, the SPLC’s deputy legal director, stated on the press release:
“These raids are a stark reminder that the failure of our nation to pass comprehensive immigration reform has devastating repercussions that rip apart communities and push immigrants deeper into the shadows.”
If such terrorizing raids are a by-product of the anti-immigrant law, HB 56, and an “avowal” made by several federal agencies, including the departments of Education and Labor, it just goes to show how backward the HB 56 anti-immigration law really is.
The departments of Education and Labor are taking steps to reassure Alabama’s Latino community that the government will be vigilant in protecting their civil rights.
This is not the first time that the state of Alabama and its anti-immigration laws have been scrutinized and criticized, as when the state’s HB 56 was signed into law it was universally condemned by immigrant and civil rights groups as the “harshest anti-immigrant state law to be passed”.
The state of Alabama and its anti-immigration laws are attempting to criminalize every aspect of life for immigrants living in Alabama, including making it illegal for immigrant children to go to school, and making it illegal for undocumented immigrants to work or rent a house.
Similar to the HB 56 law’s predecessor, Arizona’s SB 1070, the new law in Alabama also states that it is a criminal offense for immigrants to simply be in Alabama.
Basically, as Johnson Malhotra, advocacy and policy counsel for the ACLU, told Colorlines.com, “The aim [of the HB 56 law] is to make it economically not viable for immigrants to do anything.”
Alabama’s new harsh anti-immigration law, which obviously advocates making illegal raids and interrogating and terrorizing children inside family homes, furthers Alabama’s reputation and stereotype as being a xenophobic state, where racism is bred from the mouths of the lawmakers themselves.
It will be interesting to see whether, in the wake of the SPLC’s appeals to the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice will go after Alabama for its abuse of basic human rights.
Source: http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2011/12/alabama-immigration-agents-threaten-children/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 26, 2011 - REDLANDS, CA- When it comes to fighting against an unwanted assembly bill, the Redlands Tea Party Patriots are working the old fashioned way - going door to door to gather signatures against AB 131.
The new legislation, AB 131, would give undocumented students in California the opportunity to apply for financial aid.
Opponents are seeking to gather a minimum of 505,000 signatures to file their petition by Jan. 5, because they say the Dream Act disenfranchises legal resident students in a time of deep fiscal difficulty for the state.
(("It's as immoral as it is outrageous," said Tea Party Patriot John Berry, who is in charge of the group's canvassing committee.))
Berry said the Tea Party has a group of volunteers who have gone door to door twice in the past two months to gather signatures.
So far, they've gathered about 1,000 in Redlands, which he said was significant, considering it was done on an unpaid, volunteer basis.
"We get people who can't wait to sign the petition," Berry said. "It's been an overwhelmingly positive response."
In addition to going door to door, the Tea Party has had a booth at Market Night, Stater Bros. and Lowe's in Highland, Berry said.
And it`s not just the Tea Partiers who are against this potential legislation.
"All across the board, people want to sign the petition," he said, noting that Democrats, Republicans, Independents and other members of political parties have signed the petition.
"It's fair to say it's widely hated," Berry noted.
He added that this is one of the first pushes for the Tea Party to become more active in the coming year.
"We have a whole slew of events," he said. "This year, we got our sea legs as an institution. We've learned a lot, and we're going to do more in 2012.
Molly Davis, Redlands Daily Facts
Reach Molly via email, or call her at 909-793-3221.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHARLESTON, S.C. ― Major parts of South Carolina’s anti-immigrant law, including a provision that would have forced drivers to prove they were citizens or legal residents at virtually all traffic stops, were blocked today by a federal judge.
The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups recently argued that the law, scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, was unconstitutional, interferes with federal laws and would cause great harm if implemented.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Gergel also said that sections of the law, including those making it a crime to transport and harbor undocumented immigrants and criminalizing the failure to carry "papers" at all times were also likely to be found unconstitutional.
The coalition filed a lawsuit against the law in October. A hearing seeking a preliminary injunction was held Monday. The U.S. Department of Justice, which also sued South Carolina, also argued the law should be blocked because it will cause irreparable harm and interfere with federal immigration law.
“Today’s ruling blocking key provisions of South Carolina’s anti-immigrant law recognizes that such legislation is unconstitutional and likely to lead to serious civil rights abuses,” said Andre Segura, staff attorney with the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project who argued the case in court Monday on behalf of the coalition. “We have already seen the devastating effects of a similar law in Alabama, and are pleased South Carolina will not follow the same destructive path."
South Carolina’s law would have subjected citizens and legal residents to unlawful searches and seizures and interfered with federal power and authority over immigration, Segura said.
The law would require police to demand “papers” demonstrating citizenship or immigration status during traffic stops when they have “reasonable suspicion” that a person lacks immigration status, thereby inviting racial profiling. It also attempted to criminalize South Carolinians for everyday interactions with undocumented individuals, such as driving someone to church, or renting a room, said Victoria Middleton, executive director of the ACLU of South Carolina.
"The court’s ruling means this draconian law will not immediately threaten the safety of innocent people, including victims of domestic violence and human trafficking and even asylum seekers,” Middleton said. “We hope the ruling means families will not be separated, and South Carolina will not be turned into a police state.”
Today’s ruling comes shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to take a case involving parts of Arizona’s notorious anti-immigrant law, SB 1070. The civil rights coalition has pressed to continue with hearings over similar laws in South Carolina, Alabama and other states because they involve claims not before the Supreme Court, and because these laws will cause severe harms if they take effect.
Federal courts have already blocked key provisions of these laws in Arizona, Indiana and Georgia. A federal court in Alabama allowed some parts of the law to take effect, leading to devastating humanitarian consequences. Members of the civil rights coalition also have a case pending against Utah’s anti-immigrant law that has been blocked pending a hearing now scheduled for February.
The coalition in the South Carolina case includes the ACLU, the ACLU of South Carolina, the National Immigration Law Center, MALDEF, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, LatinoJustice PRLDEF and the law firms of Rosen, Rosen & Hagood and the Lloyd Law Firm.
To learn more about the case and read today’s decision, the complaint, as well as the motion for preliminary injunction, go to:
http://www.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/lowcountry-immigration-coalition-et-al-v-nikki-haley
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2011
Washington D.C. - Tomorrow, the House Immigration Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the controversial Secure Communities program. In advance of the hearing, IPC has updated The Secure Communities Program: Unanswered Questions and Continuing Concerns, which provides expert analysis of the Secure Communities program and recommendations for its improvement.
Initiated in 2008, Secure Communities is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program designed to identify immigrants in U.S. jails who are deportable under immigration law. ICE plans to implement Secure Communities in every state and local jail across the country by 2013. However, there are a wide range of ongoing concerns with the program that have not been answered to date. This paper describes the Secure Communities program, identifies concerns about the program’s design and implementation, and makes recommendations for the future of the program.
To view this special report in its entirety, visit:
The Secure Communities Program: Unanswered Questions and Continuing Concerns (IPC Special Report, updated November, 2011)
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For more information contact Wendy Sefsaf at wsefsaf@immcouncil.org or 202-507-7524
For Immediate Release
November 18, 2011
Washington D.C. - Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Principal Legal Advisor directed all ICE attorneys to begin a systematic review of immigration cases to determine whether pursuing deportation in each case is consistent with the Administration’s enforcement priorities. This directive follows last summer’s announcement that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to review 300,000 immigration cases to assess whether they fall within the enforcement priorities and suspend those cases which do not. ICE also provided more detailed guidance to ICE attorneys regarding criteria for determining when it is appropriate to exercise prosecutorial discretion to close or dismiss a case.
These directives are important steps toward reforming the culture of immigration enforcement within the agency and aligning its resources with its enforcement priorities. They empower ICE attorneys to take into account the individual circumstances of each case when deciding whether it is appropriate to pursue removal. Although DHS needs to refine its overly-broad definitions of criminality, this new guidance, if fully implemented, should mean that the government can focus its resources on deportations of those who pose a real threat to public safety. It should result in fewer deportations of low priority immigrants, such as DREAM Act students or individuals with strong family and community ties and more. Importantly, prosecutorial discretion does not mean that a person is granted legal status in the United States; rather, a person whose case is dismissed or closed will remain in the status they were in prior to the initiation of deportation proceedings.
The new ICE guidance also brings DHS more in line with traditional law enforcement practices, which emphasize the important role of discretion in carrying out any law enforcement officer’s duties. In fact, members of a DHS Task Force sent a letter today to Congress highlighting the importance of prosecutorial discretion as an immigration enforcement tool. They write:
“there is nothing unusual in our recommendation or in DHS’s current efforts to improve its use of prosecutorial discretion. Such discretion is a normal and essential part of the everyday activities of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices at the local, state, and federal levels across the nation. Exercising prosecutorial discretion, case by case, in a systematic and professional way, does not amount to administrative amnesty. Instead it helps to make sure that resources are focused in ways that best promote the overall enforcement mission.”
- DHS Guidance to ICE Attorneys (11/17/2011)
- DHS PD Case Review Memo (11/17/2011)
- DHS Task Force Letter to Congress (11/17/2011)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2011
Washington, D.C.—The American Immigration Council’s Legal Action Center (LAC) this week filed two lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to compel the release of records relating to noncitizens’ access to counsel before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The LAC pursued disclosure of these records, as well as records from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests filed last March. To date, USCIS has failed to turn over any documents, and CBP has turned over only a few excerpts from its practice manuals. ICE has informed the LAC that it conducted a search for records, but that it is “unable to locate or identify any responsive records.” The LAC has filed an administrative appeal of ICE’s determination and will pursue litigation if necessary.
These FOIA requests were prompted by the results of a survey conducted by the LAC and the American Immigration Lawyers Association that revealed widespread restrictions on access to counsel before USCIS, ICE and CBP. Such limitations include bars on attorney presence at CBP inspections, limitations on the ability to consult with attorneys in ICE detention facilities and during questioning by ICE, and restrictions on attorneys’ ability to participate in interviews before USCIS. The survey also highlighted significant variations in policies and practices in DHS offices throughout the country.
The LAC has long advocated for the right to counsel in immigration settings, including meaningful access to an attorney. The LAC currently is pursuing administrative reforms to secure improved access to counsel in all DHS proceedings. The information sought through our FOIA requests will assist in this work and in advising immigration lawyers regarding how best to safeguard their clients’ right to counsel.
Dorsey & Whitney LLP is co-counsel with the LAC on these FOIA cases.
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For more information contact Brian Yourish at byourish@immcouncil.org or 202-507-7516.
The Legal Action Center strives to increase the accountability of government agencies that administer the immigration laws and to ensure these laws are interpreted and implemented in a way that honors fundamental constitutional and human rights. The LAC engages in impact litigation, including appearing as amicus curiae (friend of the court) before administrative tribunals and federal courts in significant immigration cases on targeted legal issues, and has long worked to protect the right to counsel for noncitizens facing removal from the United States.
You have received this email through your subscription to the American Immigration Council's email list. If you did not subscribe, or would no longer like to receive email updates, unsubscribe here.
For Immediate Release
October 19, 2011
Washington D.C. - Many political pundits, presidential aspirants, and Members of Congress want to have it both ways when it comes to federal spending on immigration. On the one hand, there is much talk about the need for fiscal austerity, and a Congressional “super-committee” is currently working on slashing federal spending in order to reduce the deficit. On the other hand, even though the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) just announced a record high number of deportations, some still want to increase federal spending on immigration enforcement; putting more Border Patrol boots on the ground, completing the border fence, and deploying an array of high-tech gadgetry. However, they miss one very important fact: piling on more immigration enforcement without immigration reform is a practical and fiscal dead-end.
Over the past decade, the federal government has spent tens of billions of dollars trying to keep unauthorized immigrants out of the United States, or trying to get them out of the country if they are already here. The end result? Roughly 11 million unauthorized immigrants now call the United States home, the majority have been here for more than 10 years, and many have U.S.-born children. In short, the “enforcement only” approach to unauthorized immigration has proven to be costly and ineffective. But many political candidates and Members of Congress have yet to get the news that the enforcement-only approach has been tried and failed.
To learn more about the impracticality of enforcement without reform, view our Fact Check:
Fiscally Irresponsible: Immigration Enforcement without Reform Wastes Taxpayer Dollars (IPC Fact Check, October 2011)
Also see today's blog post on the recent release of DHS's fiscal year 2011 deportation numbers:
Redefining Criminality: Untangling DHS’s Record High Deportation Numbers (ImmigrationImpact.com, October 19, 2011)
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For more information contact Wendy Sefsaf at wsefsaf@immcouncil.org or 202-507-7524
The Immigration Policy Center (IPC), established in 2003, is the policy arm of the American Immigration Council. IPC's mission is to shape a rational conversation on immigration and immigrant integration. Through its research and analysis, IPC provides policymakers, the media, and the general public with accurate information about the role of immigrants and immigration policy on U.S. society. IPC reports and materials are widely disseminated and relied upon by press and policy makers. IPC staff regularly serves as experts to leaders on Capitol Hill, opinion-makers and the media. IPC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for office.
When planning a wedding, today’s couples would like the marriage celebration to be an expression not only of their strong commitment to each other, but to also be a reflection of their values and personal style. Every detail of that special day is carefully considered and each decision projects a certain image of the bride and groom-to-be as well as of the event itself.
From the moment the date is set and the save-the-date cards are mailed, paper quality, design and presentation do more than announce and document upcoming nuptials; stationery plays a crucial role in defining a wedding’s style and, for guests, creates a sense of the excitement and anticipation of the occasion.
"Aspen" Chloë B Collection Crane & Co.
Attractive Choices
To make the selection as easy and enjoyable as possible, Crane & Co., the nation’s leading stationery company, is introducing Chloë B., an updated approach to traditional wedding invitations. Featuring a collection of 24 wedding sets created by a consortium of talented designers, the Chloë B. wedding album combines the exquisite style and quality a bride would expect from Crane at a more accessible price.
Traditional designs are updated with stylish lettering, motif and monogram options and paired with a choice of 17 ink colors to create invitations that allow a couple to express their personalities in the most appealing way possible.
Chloe B. offers the bride and her intended a range of design choices. Couples may choose to embrace the botanical trend by incorporating nature-inspired graphics such as leaves, flowers, blossoms and branches. Two eco-friendly sets are available for couples who would like to demonstrate their commitment to the environment. Papers for these designs are made with 30 percent post-consumer recycled materials, and are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for their environmentally responsible production. Postcard replies and single envelopes are included to reduce the use of paper and many other papers within the collection are Green Seal certified.
In response to the ever-growing popularity of destination weddings, the album has new options perfect for every wedding style and location. Whether the wedding will take place in a garden, at a snowy mountain top, by the ocean at sunset, or at a country inn fifty miles from the bride’s home, the collection presents designs in keeping with the wedding’s locale.
The innovative Chloë B album offers brides complete wedding sets, including save-the-dates, invitations, reception cards, within-the-ribbons cards, reply sets and thank you notes. Coordinating options include folders, direction cards, programs and personalized napkins.
“We are very pleased to offer this exciting opportunity to our brides,” said Megan Kuntze, Crane’s Brand Director. “Crane wedding papers have always been a favorite of discerning brides, and now with Crane’s Chloë B. collection, even more brides can mark their special occasion with Crane’s timeless elegance.”
Invitation Etiquette
To ease any doubts or concerns about selecting the perfect stationery, Crane is releasing the 21st-century edition of The Wedding Blue Book to guide brides through the etiquette of wedding correspondence. Expanded to address current and emerging trends in save-the-date cards, commitment ceremonies, wedding programs as well as religious and cultural considerations, the book features an easy-to-use format with more sample designs and examples of wording as well as an extensive selection of traditional and contemporary typestyles.
Letitia Baldridge, the nation’s leading etiquette authority, said of the new Wedding Blue Book: “Greatly needed? Crane’s Wedding Blue Book, that’s what’s needed. Today’s world is in such a state of befuddlement regarding the dos and don’ts of behavior, it’s a joy to see the old traditional rules honored, but updated to make things work better. Thankfully, there’s a new elasticity in invitational language that is based on efficiency without sacrificing kindness.”
As proof that a 200-year-old stationery company can further embrace emerging technology, Crane recently launched two blogs – with links provided at www.crane.com – to communicate with consumers in the Internet age. Ms. Bliss by Brandi Safford, a newly engaged member of Crane’s PR team, engages readers with “adventures in life, letters and wedding planning.” The Crane Insider, written by Peter Hopkins, Crane’s Historian, gives readers a behind-the-scenes look “at this great American company, along with tips, trends and tales from the ultimate Crane Insider.”
You can follow this link:
Bridal News Network
For Immediate Release
September 29, 2011
Washington D.C. - Yesterday, Judge Sharon Blackburn failed to enjoin major portions of Alabama’s extreme anti-immigrant law, HB 56, leaving many dangerous sections open to implementation. Local police, for example, are required to act as federal immigration enforcement agents by demanding proof of legal status from anyone who appears to be foreign. Other provisions—that go further than Arizona’s law—insist public school administrators check the legal status of students and their parents and create confusing and burdensome new restrictions on contracts between the state government and immigrants and between private citizens and immigrants. It’s unclear how far the restrictions on contracts will go, but at a minimum they will limit access to housing and utilities for anyone who cannot produce the proper documentation.
Although supporters claim the law will solve the state’s economic problems and reduce crime, HB 56 will inflict greater economic damage to Alabama, costing the state millions to implement and defend. And the crime argument simply doesn't hold water. Since 1990, Alabama’s unauthorized population has risen from five thousand to 120 thousand. Yet the violent crime rate in the state has fallen by more than a third. Restrictive immigration laws have proven to reduce, not maximize, law enforcement effectiveness.
These kinds of laws also tend to have a chilling effect on state businesses that depend heavily on foreign talent and investments, such as Alabama’s automotive and emerging biotechnology and aerospace industries. The Korean automaker Hyundai, for example, has brought thousands of jobs to Montgomery. The German company ThyssenKrupp has built a $3.7 billion steel mill north of Mobile, Alabama, that will employ 2,700 workers when it is running at full capacity. HB 56 sends a clear and decidedly un-American message that many of these foreign workers who live and work in Alabama are illegal until proven legal; guilty until proven innocent.
Meanwhile, Alabama’s law enforcement agencies are struggling to fulfill current mandates in tough fiscal times. The additional burdens imposed by this law will hurt, not help, in fighting crime. Reports show the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has already cut 20 percent or more of its budget this year, eliminating 145 deputy positions in order to make up the $3 million missing in this quarter's budget. According to Tuscaloosa (AL) Police Chief Steve Anderson, the new law will require officers to spend more time on basic traffic stops, not to mention potential court appearances, taking time away from solving real crimes and protecting communities.
Local schools and administrators will also have to bear the burden of enforcing Alabama’s draconian immigration law. The Principal of Crossville Elementary School in northeastern Alabama reportedly said, “We don’t have the personnel to do all the work that is needed to find out which parents are legal. That’s my biggest concern—putting it off on the schools to police illegal immigration. I don’t think school is the place to do that; we don’t have the resources.”
Alabama has just entered dangerous new territory and, in the process, dragged the rest of the country along for the ride. Those out-of-state politicians and organizations behind these state-level experiments with immigration policy will not lose anything more than a court battle. Sadly, it’s the people of Alabama—being used by anti-immigrant crusaders—who have the most to lose.
For a legal analysis of yeterday's court ruling see:
* What You Should Know About Initital Rulings on Alabama's Immigration Law (ImmigrationImpact.com, September 29, 2011)
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For more information contact Wendy Sefsaf at wsefsaf@immcouncil.org or 202-507-7524.
The Immigration Policy Center (IPC), established in 2003, is the policy arm of the American Immigration Council. IPC's mission is to shape a rational conversation on immigration and immigrant integration. Through its research and analysis, IPC provides policymakers, the media, and the general public with accurate information about the role of immigrants and immigration policy on U.S. society. IPC reports and materials are widely disseminated and relied upon by press and policy makers. IPC staff regularly serves as experts to leaders on Capitol Hill, opinion-makers and the media. IPC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for office.
Division of the American Immigration Council.
PRESS RELEASE
August 27, 2011 - Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) Company is making final storm preparations to deal with the potential for significant equipment damage and extended customer outages as a result of Hurricane Irene.
"Our state has never before experienced a storm of this magnitude," said Ralph LaRossa, PSE&G president and COO. "PSE&G will have about 6,000 employees supporting the restoration effort, including 840 linemen and 540 tree contractors available to respond to outages once the hurricane pulls away. While our electric system has been recognized as the most reliable in the nation, we expect significant damage from the extraordinary wind and rain expected to pummel New Jersey this weekend. Full restoration could take between one and three weeks."
LaRossa added, "The safety of our customers and employees is first and foremost. We will begin restoring service as soon as conditions are safe to do so. We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our customers as we deal with what may be an unprecedented event."
In addition to widespread electric outages, PSE&G expects the heavy rain and predicted storm surge to result in gas outages. Water could enter the utility's gas distribution system, as well as flood customers' basements and gas appliances. Customers are reminded to call PSE&G to report gas odors, and contact their local fire department and municipal construction office to receive assistance in pumping the water out of their basements.
Electric crews work to restore power to the largest numbers of customers first, taking into account "priority" customers, such as hospitals, police stations, fire stations, water and sewer facilities, communications facilities (TV, radio, and telephone), and customers on life-sustaining medical equipment. At the same time, the utility restores power to homes and businesses, starting with the circuits serving the largest number of customers.
To report downed wires or power outages, customers should call PSE&G's Customer Service line at 1-800-436-PSEG. PSE&G uses an automated system to handle customer calls as efficiently as possible. Customers who get an automated response when calling PSE&G are encouraged to use it, as it is designed to route their calls to the right destination quickly. The system also provides the option to speak directly to a customer service representative. If you have specific information regarding damage to wires, transformers or poles, we ask that you speak with a representative to provide that information.
Customers with a handheld device, or who are at an alternate location with power, can also report power outages and view the status of their outage by logging in to My Account at pseg.com. General outage activity throughout our service territory is available online at www.pseg.com/outagecenter and updates are posted on pseg.com during severe weather.
If outages are widespread, the utility will activate its Twitter page to keep the public informed about our restoration progress. Sign up as a follower at http://twitter.com/psegoutageinfo to monitor restoration progress.
PSE&G offers the following important information for customers:
DOWNED POWER LINES
Heavy rain and strong winds can cause power lines to come down. Downed wires may appear dead but should always be considered "live." STAY AWAY FROM ALL DOWNED LINES . Do not approach or drive over a downed line and do not touch anything that it might be in contact with. Parents are urged to check for downed wires in areas where their children might play and to remind the children to stay far away from any wires. If a wire falls on a vehicle, passengers should stay in the vehicle until help arrives. To report a downed wire, call 1-800-436-PSEG and tell PSE&G the nearest cross street.
CUSTOMERS WITH LIFE-SUSTAINING EQUIPMENT
Individuals who rely on electricity to operate life-sustaining electronic equipment, such as a respirator or dialysis machine, should pre-register with PSE&G to receive priority attention in the event of an outage. To request the service, call PSE&G at 1-800-436-PSEG. They should also inform their rescue squads and fire departments of their needs, in case of emergency. Even though customers with life-sustaining equipment who have registered with PSE&G will receive priority attention during outages, they should also have emergency back-up equipment on hand, since immediate restoration cannot be guaranteed.
IF YOU LOSE POWER
First check your neighborhood. If you are the only one without power, check your fuse box for tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses. If that's not the problem, look outside at the wire between your house and the utility pole. If it is down, report it immediately to PSE&G.
If you lose power:
KEEP REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER DOORS CLOSED. Food will stay frozen between 36 and 48 hours in a fully loaded freezer (24 hours in a half-full freezer).
Know how to open your garage door without the electric opener.
Remember, electric well and sump pumps will not operate.
Unplug all motor-driven appliances like refrigerators and freezers and sensitive electronic equipment (like TVs, microwaves and computers) to prevent a possible electrical overload when power is restored.
Leave one light switch on to indicate when power is restored.
IF YOU USE A PORTABLE ELECTRIC GENERATOR, CAREFULLY READ AND FOLLOW THE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH IT. Be sure your generator is UL-approved, installed by a licensed electrician and inspected by your local electrical inspector. There must be a way to physically disconnect your generator from utility lines. Customers who improperly install, operate or maintain a generator are responsible for any injury or damage suffered by themselves, their neighbors or utility workers.
FLOODED BASEMENTS
Flooded basements can pose a genuine safety risk. Below are some steps you can take to help ensure your safety in the event of flooding:
Be cautious in flooded basements.
If customers lose electricity and their basement is flooded, notify PSE&G (1-800-436-7734) and call the local fire department to have the basement pumped. Stay away from the breaker box if it's in a flooded basement. And don't go into a flooded basement if energized wires are present.
If water is rising to the height of any gas appliance, the gas supply to the appliance should be turned off. If customers are unable to do so, please contact PSE&G or your local police or fire department for assistance. To restore gas service to appliances call PSE&G (1-800-436-7734) and have the appliances checked for safety and restored to proper operation.
Customers should call PSE&G (1-800-436-7734) immediately if they smell gas.
GENERAL TIPS:
Mother Nature can be unpredictable. It's wise to have an emergency kit on hand year round. Here are some things to include:
A battery-powered radio.
A corded telephone (cordless phones will not work if the power is out)
Flashlights and extra fresh batteries.
A first-aid kit.
Bottled water and an adequate supply of non-perishable food.
A non-electric can opener.
Matches and candles with holders.
Extra blankets and sleeping bags.
A list of emergency phone numbers, including PSE&G's Customer Service line: 1-800-436-PSEG. Call this number to report power outages or downed wires.
