Edison's mayor has touted and embraced the township's diversity. Now he's being criticized

Edison Mayor Sam Joshi

EDISON – Mayor Sam Joshi has come under fire for what some allege were “divisive” comments he made about busses carrying migrants from the southern border making drop-offs in the township.

At Thursday’s reorganization meeting, about 10 people criticized Joshi and called for an apology from the mayor who has often touted the diversity of Edison’s 107,000 residents, of which 2022 U.S. Census Bureau figures shows 44.9 percent are foreign-born.

Census figures show Asians represent 49.6 percent of the township’s population, along with 30 percent white, 10 percent Hispanic or Latino and 9 percent Black.

Joshi, who had attended the swearing-in of new Councilman Asaf Shmuel at the beginning of the meeting, appears to have left before the criticism ensued.

The fallout comes after buses from Texas recently arrived in New Jersey including Edison, in a bid to sidestep New York City’s recent order to limit arrivals.

Joshi, Edison’s first South Asian mayor, took to Facebook after learning about the local drop-offs.

“I want to be very clear – if any bus, train or plane of illegal migrants come to Edison, I have instructed our law enforcement and emergency management departments to charter a bus to transport the illegal migrants right back to the southern Texas/Mexican border,” Joshi wrote.

“Over the years I have expressed my disagreement with the concept of ‘sanctuary’ cities and states and I won’t allow Edison to be subjected to its consequences. Our border policies need to be strengthened to stop illegal migrants from entering our country,” Joshi wrote. “Edison is a municipality with a significant immigrant population and I will continue to support only legal immigration.”

A person who spoke at the reorganization meeting asked the mayor to “reevaluate his divisive language that flies in the face of Democratic values, New Jersey values and basic human decency,” and called on the mayor to publicly apologize to all immigrants in New Jersey and commit to supporting asylum seekers going forward.

Others also called for Joshi to apologize to immigrants in Edison and across the state. One woman, an immigrant herself, said Edison has only benefitted from having an immigrant population, regardless of legal status, where children grow up with a deeper understanding of the world and cultural diversity.

More: NJ requested $5 million to address migrant crisis, but it is not using the money

Another woman said Edison is suffering from a lack of empathy and leadership. She said Highland Park has been welcoming asylum seekers and refugees for many years, while Joshi should stop spreading fear and hate and apologize. She said the people on the buses are much like Joshi’s parents, just looking for a better life for their families.

When asked to respond to the comments made at the meeting, a township spokesperson referred MyCentralJersey.com to the mayor’s two-minute video on his Facebook page posted late Wednesday, following up his initial statements.

In the video, Joshi said that as the son of immigrants and a first-generation American whose entire family immigrated to the U.S. through a legal process, this is a subject he understands. While his family wanted the freedoms offered in America, he said it’s a collective responsibility to protect those freedoms and the future.

“My responsibility as mayor is to the residents and taxpayers of this municipality. Over the last several days I have been made aware of at least two buses filled with undocumented migrants arriving in Edison. We are all aware that these migrants are faced with very difficult and dangerous situations abroad. That being said there is a standard by which our tax dollars have to be fairly distributed and Edison does not have the financial resources or social service resources required. We cannot afford to put them in long term hotel stays or provide housing or educational services to our already overcrowded schools,” the mayor said.

“I’m mindful of the many barriers and challenges that the immigration process may bring, especially as my own family members, the majority of my friends and much of the Edison community went through it legally themselves. Immigration is a responsibility of the federal government, including its shortfalls which cannot be filled by our municipality or simply passed off to another mayor. It must be addressed at the national level,” Joshi continued.

The mayor also urged people in the community not to vilify or dehumanize the migrants.

“We have a responsibility to protect Edison while still holding empathy and understanding for those trying to find a better home. This burden however will not fall on our residents and taxpayers” the mayor said.

Joshi has often mentioned the township’s diversity as a key attraction.

Last year he appointed the township’s first Muslim municipal court judge and during the last two years the township has hosted one of the largest Diwali celebrations in the state.

The township’s new splash park is set to feature culturally diverse artifacts reimagined as sprinklers, such as a red dragon as a symbol for East Asia and an elephant for South Asia.

During an interview about his first 100 days in office, Joshi said he wanted to celebrate the township’s diversity and embrace all residents’ cultures and backgrounds.

“Here you get to experience all different foods, cultures, traditions, heritages, things that really make the world a better place,” he said.

Township Council members, at the reorganization meeting, also weighed in on the fallout.

Councilman Ajay Patil, a first-generation immigrant, questioned if the mayor understands the immigration experience. He said immigrants deserve respect and humanity, while keeping politics out.

Councilman Richard Brescher noted the mayor cannot ship anyone back.

Council President Nishith Patel, who is also an immigrant, said the council doesn’t have the authority to address the immigration problem. Patel said he’s disappointed with the federal government for using immigration as a political pawn, without caring for the human cost of the situation.

Council Vice President Margot Harris said her grandparents came from Russia at the turn of the last century to escape persecution.

Harris said she was disappointed with the mayor’s comments and given the concerns raised she questioned if the council should form a subcommittee for this issue. Patel said he agreed with Harris that there needs to be a plan for what Edison should do regarding immigrants.

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Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Edison’s mayor has touted and embraced the township’s diversity. Now he’s being criticized