Disappeared in America: Rhode Island rises in defense of the immigrant community and our Constitution

“Our goal is to expose the Trump Administration’s abuse of immigration authority and erosion of due process..."

“Disappeared in America is a campaign led by a growing coalition of immigrant rights, faith, rule of law, and pro-democracy organizations," said organizer Pamela Poniatowski on Thursday at a rally in Kennedy Plaza. “We’re mobilizing our members online and in person to shine a light on a disturbing reality: under Trump’s immigration agenda, people are being forcibly detained and deported. I would say that’s rendition because it’s not deported when they go to a different country and disappeared. This campaign demands transparency, accountability, and due process for all.”

“The campaign highlights Heidy Sanchez, who was taken away from her baby; Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who has been let out of detention but they are trying to come up with reasons to detain him again; and Andry Hernandez Romero, a makeup artist taken sent to CECOT, one of the most awful prisons in El Salvador,” said Poniatowski “They’re doing this in our name as though this is what we wanted, and this is not what we wanted.”

“We know things like this will escalate if we don’t stop it. Now is the time for us all to stop it.” - Pamelia Poniatowski

“Our goal is to expose the Trump Administration’s abuse of immigration authority and erosion of due process; humanize the impacts by lifting people up; mobilize public pressure on elected officials, media, and law enforcement; and build solidarity with immigrant families, communities, and advocates. [We do this because] we know that due process is a constitutional right and every person, regardless of immigration status, has the right to a fair hearing, access to legal counsel, and protection from arbitrary detention.

“Stripping away these rights puts all of our freedoms at risk because if they’re doing it to undocumented people right now, and not even trying to find out if they’re undocumented, what do you think they’re going to do with other people that don’t look like them?

“Without our core constitutional protections, none of us is safe. No one should be disappearing in a free society. In a free society, the government cannot detain and rendition people in secret. Disappearances are the tools of authoritarians, not the policies of a country that claims to value justice.”

We know that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and we will not stand for our rights to be taken away. Due process is a constitutional right. They’re trying to take away our constitutional rights and become an authoritarian government - and we say, “No.” - Pamela Poniatowski

“Being undocumented is not a crime. Immigration status is a civil matter, not a criminal offense. Treating undocumented people as criminals fuels fear, violates human rights, and destabilizes entire communities.

“We’re asking for accountability. We demand transparency from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). We must shine a light on the actions of immigration enforcement agencies that operate with little oversight and unchecked power. The public deserves answers, and the people they target, who are out of our country with no oversight, deserve justice.”