Through RESPIRAR, CATA and university partners are examining how wages, housing, transportation, and access to care shape farmworkers’ health in Maryland. Research and worker conversations reveal unsafe housing, wage disparities, and financial pressures that can delay medical care. CATA is bringing these findings to discussions with regulators and legislators to push for stronger protections and direct improvements in the living and working conditions of the people who help feed our communities.

In May, hundreds of people detained at Delaney Hall in Newark launched a hunger strike to demand humane conditions, the release of vulnerable detainees, and the right to await court hearings with their families. After more than two weeks of protests and community pressure, New Jersey’s governor proposed $20 million for immigrant legal defense. While an important victory, the funding is expected to help only about 40% of detained immigrants, leaving many without legal support.

New Jersey has taken a major step forward in protecting immigrant communities. With the passage of the Safe Communities law, the state now limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities in sensitive places like schools, churches, and healthcare facilities. This victory is the result of years of advocacy by immigrant-led organizations and allies who pushed to ensure that all residents—regardless of status—can live, work, and access essential services without