Supporting the vulnerable through collaborative efforts

Donald J. Trump’s second presidential term was barely minted last month when he released a series of sweeping executive orders that would unleash harsh raids, detentions and deportations upon immigrant communities across the United States.

On the day of his inauguration, Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump declared a national emergency on the U.S. southern border, authorizing the deployment of armed forces to the area. Over the next month, reported The Guardian, he would go on to sign executive orders establishing a “migrant detention center” at Guantanamo Bay for a planned 30,000 detainees, revoking the sensitive locations policy procedures that designate houses of worship, schools and other areas as refuge from immigration enforcement officials, and has attempted to terminate birthright citizenship as granted under the 14th Amendment. The New York Post reported that Trump has also terminated the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of more than 600,000 Venezuelan immigrants, leaving them vulnerable to the new and aggressive promises of his administration.

Across the country, local government officials are continuing to push back on the implementation of these orders. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston spoke to reporters on Jan. 22, saying: “we will not be bullied or blackmailed.” In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke to press as ICE raids began in his city: “We stand together firmly in our welcoming city status, as well as our commitment to protecting all residents of the city of Chicago, no matter where you come from or how long you’ve lived here.”

While Rhode Island is not designated formally as a sanctuary state, its capital city of Providence is a sanctuary city, and as the American Immigration Council reports: “one in eight Rhode Islanders was born in another country, while one in five residents is a native-born American who has at least one immigrant parent.” State legislators, politicians and community leaders have begun to take steps in both immigration policy and grassroots support to uphold the rights and well-being of Rhode Islanders.

State political actors hold a variety of views on how to approach the executive orders. Attorney General Peter F. Neronha's office is working with the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) to provide guidance to schools on ensuring students’ rights are protected.

“Federal immigration officials have signaled that they no longer view schools as off-limits for even routine enforcement actions. Yet, Rhode Island children must have access to education without interruption or fear,” said Neronha in a Jan. 27 press release. “While federal immigration enforcement policies may have changed, basic legal and constitutional principles have not.”

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s communications director Josh Estrella gave a similarly firm statement to Jewish Rhode Island: “Mayor Smiley has affirmed that the Providence Police Department will not and should not be immigration officers. Providence remains committed to being a safe and welcoming city for all neighbors of all immigration status. To be clear, Providence Police will never ask for a person's immigration status. Our priority is the safety of all neighbors. The City’s policy remains the same and will not change: Providence will not proactively collaborate with ICE to provide information.”

Others in the state disagree with this approach. The Republican Party of Rhode Island issued a press release on Jan. 31, quoting their chairman Joe Powers, which read, in part:

“The Rhode Island Republican Party stands firmly behind law enforcement and the enforcement of all immigration laws as written. Powers reaffirmed his commitment to supporting policies that prioritize the safety and security of Rhode Islanders.

‘We cannot allow political activism to take precedence over the safety and well-being of our citizens,’ Powers concluded. ‘Every elected official who participates in this lawless defiance should be removed and prosecuted. Rhode Islanders deserve leaders who will uphold their oath, not betray it.’”

Others fall somewhere in between. Governor Daniel McKee shared the following statement with Jewish Rhode Island:

“Given the rise in inflammatory rhetoric targeting this country’s immigrant communities, I understand the anxiety and fear many Rhode Islanders are experiencing, particularly related to new and potential changes in national policy,” he said.

“I believe strongly that undocumented people who are hardworking and adding to RI’s economy should have a path toward citizenship, similar to former President Reagan’s amnesty program. I also want to assure the public that, while Rhode Island State Police officers are committed to ensuring the safety of Rhode Islanders, they are not immigration officers and should not be deployed as such. When it comes to violent criminals in this country illegally, however, the state already cooperates with ICE on their lawful detention. That is not new.”

While the political responses vary, grassroots organizations across the state are united in their approach: preparing as well as they can for an influx of immigrants with tangible needs.

Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance (AMOR), launched in 2017, provides community support in Rhode Island and southern New England for victims of hate crimes and state-sponsored violence, and have specific resources to help individuals who are undocumented. Their AMOR Defense Line Against Deportation & Police Brutality (401-675-1414) offers support in both English and Spanish for those in need of community or legal support. Moreover, AMOR takes the crucial next step in assuring that their clients remain cared for beyond the moment of crisis by reaching out to mental health practitioners and medical providers to form a client care network for longer-term support.

DORCAS International, a non-profit offering integrated services to immigrants in Rhode Island, has been anticipating this increase in need as well. Though the aggressive actions and speeches broadcast on television can seem far away from Rhode Island’s shores, Director of Communications Julie Cofone noted: “The administration’s stop work order for the use of federal funds for Reception and Placement Services that supports newly arriving refugees directly impacts those who arrived in Rhode Island in December and January, both in terms of financial support, basic needs and staff assistance.

“Already we are seeing schools, clinics and agencies scrambling with addressing how to respond to ICE raids on site,” she added. “Also, as you may know there are many families not sending their children to school, seeking healthcare, etc.

“Rhode Island’s progressive stance on immigrant rights, including offering in-state tuition and driver’s licenses to undocumented individuals, may be challenged by shifts in federal policy, prompting state lawmakers to respond either by reinforcing protections or adjusting to the new federal landscape,” she concluded, laying bare the uncertainty of whether even the most basic of protections will remain in the coming months and years for immigrant communities in Rhode Island and beyond.

Jewish community allies to these and other organizations are also looking for how to best offer support. In a statement to Jewish Rhode Island, Jewish Collaborative Services’ President and CEO Pam Morris said:

“We will remain committed to fostering a welcoming environment where all individuals regardless of background or religious affiliation can access the support they need. Our work done through our programs like the food pantry, counseling center and case management ensures that vulnerable populations, including immigrant families, have resources to navigate challenges and build stability. We will also remain engaged in collaborative efforts to address any needs related to the impacts and will uphold our values of respect, compassion and community support for ALL in need.”

Jewish Rhode Island will publish ongoing coverage of this issue.