COMMUNITY ADVISORY: Reports of Increased Harassment Targeting New Jersey Mosques 

(07/17/26 — NEWARK, NJ) — The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) is advising mosques, Islamic centers and other Muslim-identifying institutions across New Jersey to be vigilant amid an increase in reported harassment.  

In recent days, four different mosques in New Jersey have reported targeted harassment to CAIR-NJ – including phone calls, hate mail, and physical intimidation. Just this morning, we were alerted by authorities to 6 additional mosques receiving targeted harassment.  

If you or your mosque has been subject to any anti-Muslim harassment, big or small, report it to CAIR-NJ and immediately file a police report. If the caller has a 551 area code, please note that in your report.  

SEE: CAIR’s Muslim Community Safety Kit 

Best practices for mosque security: 

• Build good relationships with neighbors of the mosque. Invite them to visit your center. 
• Try to have people attend the mosque as much as possible. Activity deters perpetrators. 
• Make an appointment with the community relations officer of your local police department to tour your center and make suggestions on improving mosque security. 
• Request additional police patrols in the vicinity of your center. Special attention should be paid to times of darkness and during prayers. 
• Consider creating a security committee at your mosque. 
• Post mosque members at entrances and parking areas during prayer times. 
• Report suspicious packages to police. Do not touch them. 
• Install perimeter floodlights outside the mosque. 
• Install fire and burglar alarm systems. 
• Replace hollow core doors with more secure solid doors. 
• Install burglarproof bars on screens and large vents. (Note – Research local ordinances before beginning security renovations. For example, window bars should not limit  evacuation in case of fire.) 
• Trim shrubs and vines to reduce areas of concealment. 
• Participate in neighborhood watch programs. 
• Document descriptions of suspicious people or vehicles. 
• Make duplicates of all important papers, computer disks and records. 
• Remove potential fire hazards, such as trash and debris. 
• Consider installing security cameras. 

Responding to bomb threats 

• Distribute written instructions on handling bomb threats. 
• Keep the caller on the line as long as possible. Ask that the message be repeated. Record or write down everything that is said. 
• Ask for the location of the bomb. 
• Inform the caller that the detonation of a bomb could hurt many innocent people. 
• Pay attention to background noises such as music, which may give a clue to the caller’s location. 
• Listen closely to the caller’s voice. Make note of accents, voice quality (calm, excited) or speech impediments. 
• Report the threat immediately to the local police, ATF and FBI. Have appropriate phone numbers listed in written instructions. 
• If the threat comes in the form of a letter, save all materials, including the envelope. Handle the letter as little as possible. 
• Search the interior and exterior of the mosque. Evacuate the building if a suspicious package or device is found. 

Suspect letters and packages 

What to look for: 

• Name and title of addressee are not accurate. 
• No return address, or the sender is not known to the addressee. 
• Handwriting is distorted. 
• Unprofessionally wrapped, uneven, bulky, lopsided. 
• Contains bulges or soft spots. 
• Poorly wrapped package is marked “Fragile: Handle With Care,” “Rush,” or has unusual restrictions such as “Personal” or “Private.” 
• Excess amount of postage. 
• Protruding wires or tin foil. 
• Package makes a buzzing or ticking noise, a sloshing sound, or emits an odor. 

What to do: 

• DON’T open the package or letter. 
• DON’T put it in water or in a confined space such as a drawer. 
• DO isolate the article and secure the immediate area. 
• DO open windows if possible to help vent potential explosive gases. 
• DO contact your local police department and postal inspector.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. 

Take Action: Call for Immediate Release of Amrou Ibrahim, New Jersey Global Sumud Flotilla Participant

CAIR-NJ strongly condemns Israel’s interception of the peaceful Global Sumud Flotilla, whose sole mission was to deliver vital humanitarian aid to Gaza. We urge New Jersey’s Congressional Representatives to take immediate action to protect their constituents aboard the flotilla, including Amrou Ibrahim.

New Jersey resident, Amrou Ibrahim, was among those arrested by Israel trying to deliver desperately needed food, medicine, and aid supplies to Gaza. The nearly 500 people aboard more than 50 boats were stopped off the coast of Cyprus. We have not heard from Amrou since before his arrest. Urgent action is needed to ensure his safe return and that others are not abused. This comes just as Israel recently extended detention for some humanitarian activists who were previously arrested on another flotilla.

CAIR-NJ is concerned with reports that Amrou and other flotilla participants are being held on a cargo ship while they await transfer to an Israeli prison.

Send a message to your representatives today: demand that they protect everyone on board from abuse in Israeli prisons and publicly condemn Israel’s unlawful interception of the flotilla as they continue to strangle Gaza.

TAKE ACTION: Email and/or call NJ officials to demand they call for an immediate release.

CAIR-NJ & Partners Host CD11 Special Primary Candidates Forum

With Rep. Mikie Sherrill now serving as Governor of New Jersey, voters in Congressional District 11 will soon decide who will fill her vacant seat in Congress. To help community members make informed decisions, CAIR-NJ and partner organizations hosted a candidates forum on January 23 at the Islamic Center of Morris County.

This unprecedented event brought together candidates seeking to represent District 11 for a respectful, community-centered conversation focused on the issues most important to Muslim voters across the district. The forum was part of CAIR-NJ’s ongoing work to build Muslim civic power by ensuring our community has direct access to those running for office and the information needed to engage meaningfully in the democratic process.

Ten candidates participated, who shared their visions, outlined their policy priorities, and responded to questions from moderators.

Issues Discussed

During the January 23 forum, candidates addressed a wide range of topics spanning both foreign policy and domestic policy.

On foreign policy, discussion included U.S. military spending, U.S. military aid to Israel, candidates’ positions on accepting support from AIPAC and participating in Pro-Israel, foreign advocacy organization trips, and use of the term genocide to describe Israel’s actions in Gaza.

On domestic issues, candidates responded to questions about combating anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia, the IHRA definition of antisemitism, whether candidates would uphold the right to boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS), addressing the affordability crisis, support for Medicare for All, immigration policy, ICE enforcement practices, and proposals to defund ICE.

Some questions were open-ended, while others included show-of-hands responses, helping voters better understand where each candidate stands in a highly contested race.

All candidates were invited to participate. The event was open to the public, and community members from across the district were encouraged to attend and take part in this important civic conversation.

The Special Primary Election is February 5th, and the Special General Election is April 16th.

👉 More election information: cair-nj.org/cd11specialprimary

👉 View the recording (WITH TIMESTAMPS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQCOQ6R5mok

If you would like to see more programs that uplift Muslim voices and strengthen our community’s civic engagement, please consider making a financial contribution to support this work.

This forum was held for educational purposes only. CAIR-NJ and its host partners are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and do not endorse or oppose any candidate for public office.

On December 16 the Trump Administration issued another proclamation which impacts immigrant Muslim community members.

The new proclamation expands the June 2025 Travel Ban, further restricting visas and entry to the United States for individuals from certain countries.  The new restrictions will take effect on January 1, 2026.

Details of the updated ban

The updated Entry Ban will:

• Bar people outside the United States who do not have a valid visa from entering the U.S.
• Fully prohibit most people from entering or seeking to enter the United States from the following 20 countries: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, as well as anyone using documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority (PA).
• Partially prohibit entry by immigrants and certain classes of nonimmigrant visas for people from the following nineteen (19) countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
• The ban applies to people from the identified countries who do not already have visas.

Exemptions

There are some people who are exempt from the ban. However, this proclamation reduced these categories from the previous ban.

Those who are exempt from the ban are:

• people who have a valid visa
• green card holders (lawful permanent residents)
• people with dual citizenship who are traveling on the passport of a country not listed in the Proclamation
• people traveling on NATO or diplomatic visas
• athletes, coaches, and people part of athletic support teams
• People traveling on Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs)
• people whose travel the Secretary of State finds is in the national interest.

Support from CAIR-NJ

If you have specific concerns about consistent travel issues or how any of the new announcements may affect your case, please contact CAIR-NJ at (908) 668-5900 or cairnj.org/report to schedule a legal consultation. Our team is here to support you, answer questions, and ensure you receive accurate guidance.

We remain committed to protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of our community.

Please stay connected with us for further updates.

(New Jersey, July 31, 2025) — The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) is proud to announce the release of two new Know Your Rights educational brochures aimed at equipping community members with essential legal information. 

The brochures, titled “Know Your Rights: ICE Enforcement” and “Know Your Rights: Airport and Travel” are now available for free download and printing at www.cair-nj.org. 

To ensure accessibility and inclusivity, these resources have been translated into Urdu, Farsi, Arabic, Turkish, and Spanish. 

“We continue to receive many inquiries about travel and ICE encounters—situations that can vary widely and carry different risks depending on a person’s immigration status. In response, we’re holding educational presentations at mosques, crafting new KYR materials, and translating them to better support and inform our communities as they navigate the current trends. If ICE comes to your door or you’re held for 6 hours at the airport, you can think back to these best practices,” said CAIR-NJ Operations Director, Dyaa Terpstra.  

This project is co-sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and made possible through funding from the IOLTA Fund of the Bar of New Jersey. For more information on the Foundation’s law-related education initiatives, visit www.njsbf.org. 

Disclaimer: The information contained in these brochures is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, laws may change and are subject to interpretation. Individuals seeking legal guidance should consult with a licensed immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.