‘No hate, no fear... immigrants welcome’
Group marches through Pawtucket with strong words for Rep. Coughlin and fellow legislators
PAWTUCKET — Carrying signs and chanting, “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” a group of about 30 immigration rights activists – and some of their children – marched through the streets of Pawtucket on Saturday morning to send Rep. David Coughlin a message.
Coughlin is one of the sponsors of House Bill 5093, which states, in part, that no state or local government body may prohibit another such body from sending information on an individual's citizenship or immigration status to the Department of Homeland Security.
“I don't think there's any room for this legislation in Rhode Island,” said Janie Segui. “I think it's discriminatory and it breeds profiling.”
The Pawtucket immigration working group coordinated the solidarity march, and Segui shared the event on the Facebook page created to share goings-on in the city, The People of Pawtucket. The activists convened at 100 Cottage St. and marched to Coughlin's house on Armistice Boulevard, where they stopped around 8:45 a.m.
After ringing the doorbell numerous times, protesters of the bill called out, “If you feel this is so important you should come out and speak with us” and “Come 2018, this kind of behavior will no longer be tolerated and you'll be gone.”
Chants of “Coughlin, come out” followed, and while some neighbors were roused from their sleep, there was no answer at the representative's door.
Coughlin did not respond on Saturday to The Times' requests seeking comment on the bill. The legislation will come before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, and many of the marchers plan to attend the hearing as well.
Rep. Arthur Corvese (D-Dist. 55, North Providence) reintroduced the bill on Jan. 12, after sponsoring it last year. Its cosponsors are representatives Coughlin (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket), Bob Phillips (D-Dist. 51,
Woonsocket and Cumberland) and Stephen Ucci (D-Dist. 42, Johnston and Cranston).
The legislation, called the Public Safety and Protection Act, is aimed at preventing “sanctuary cities” in the Ocean State.
It would mandate that state and local government entities cannot, on the basis of immigration status, restrict: the determination of eligibility for a public benefit provided by federal law, the verification of a claim of residence, or the confirmation of a person who is detained by law enforcement officials.
The bill states, “No state or local government entity or official may limit or restrict the enforcement of federal immigration law.” It also says that a law enforcement agency “may securely transport an alien” to a federal facility in Rhode Island, or to another point of transfer into federal custody.
The legislation would punish elected officials who do not report these violations with up to a year of imprisonment or a fine of up to $1,000.
Corvese said in a news release, “We are a nation of laws, and I believe the majority of Rhode Islanders would prefer that people coming to this country do so legally and abide by our laws when they get here. Bending the rules weakens them and sends a message to all of society that our laws don’t apply when someone feels they have a good reason for breaking them.”
Corvese went on to say that he is concerned “about the potential for tragedy that could occur should an agency in Rhode Island refuse to comply with a federal effort to deport a dangerous criminal.” He cited the case of Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, who allegedly murdered Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco despite having previously been deported from the United States five times.
Immigrant rights activists are quick to point out that most immigrants are law-abiding, and research has found that immigrants are less prone to crime than people born in the United States. The protesters that turned out on Saturday included immigrants, firstgeneration U.S. citizens and others there to show solidarity. Some, the day after St. Patrick's Day, related to the cause through the discrimination against their Irish ancestors.
One attendee was Pawtucket City Councilor Sandra Cano, who emigrated from Colombia to the United States 16 years ago.
“This is a demonstration of solidarity with our community,” she said. “Pawtucket is a really diverse place, and our diversity is our strength.”
Cano echoed the refrain, “We are all immigrants,” though others fighting for the same cause disagree with this sentiment.
Another Pawtucket City Council member present was Meghan Kallman, who said she was “horrified” when she first heard about the legislation.
“This bill is advocating tactics that have been wildly discredited by mayors and law enforcement throughout the country,” she said. “It doesn't make our community safer.”
Kallman went on to say, “This is stuff that sounds like 1940s Germany. People living in fear is not a healthy way for a democracy to run.”
In a similar vein, Resit Hate RI activist Antonio Brito feels this bill isn't what America is about, and that it represents the kind of tactics more oppressive societies use.
Those who marched on Saturday instead favor HB 5515, sponsored by Rep. Shelby Maldonado (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls). Her bill prohibits a person from being arrested solely on the basis of a civil immigration detainer or an administrative warrant.
It also bars Rhode Island law enforcement agencies from providing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with information on inmates' incarceration or release dates. The bill does not, though, “limit the exchange of information regarding citizenship or immigration status as permitted by federal law.”