Black Lives Matter Rhode Island PAC President Tuttle Urges Pawtucket Compliance with RIACLU Proposed Immigration Protection Ordinance
Harrison Tuttle, President of Black Lives Matter RI PAC, addressed Pawtucket, Rhode Island Mayor Donald Grebien, and the Pawtucket, Rhode Island City Council today, in a letter urging the adoption of the ACLU Proposed Immigration Protection Ordinance.
Per Mr. Tuttle, “An analysis was performed on municipalities perceived at risk for ICE interdiction, based on municipal laws. Pawtucket was deemed a high risk for extra-legal police actions.”
January 27th, 2025
Mayor Donald R. Grebien
City Council Members
City of Pawtucket
City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue
Pawtucket, RI 02860
Dear Mayor Grebien and Members of the Pawtucket City Council,
We write to you on behalf of the Black Lives Matter Rhode Island Political Action Committee to urge the City of Pawtucket to adopt and pass the ACLU of Rhode Island’s proposed Immigration Protection Ordinance. As a city with a rich history of welcoming immigrant communities, Pawtucket has long been a beacon of diversity and opportunity. Now is the time to reinforce this legacy by enacting protections that safeguard the rights and dignity of our immigrant neighbors.
The proposed ordinance contains critical provisions that align with federal law while promoting public safety and fostering trust between the city’s diverse communities and its law enforcement. These provisions include:
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Requiring Judicial Warrants: Ensuring that ICE detainers are only honored with proper judicial authority, protecting constitutional rights.
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Supporting Victims of Crime: Assisting individuals who may qualify for special immigration status, thereby encouraging community members to report crimes without fear of retribution.
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Rejecting 287(g) Agreements: Declining participation in programs that deputize local law enforcement to act as federal immigration agents, which can erode trust and shift focus away from community-based policing.
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Avoiding Harmful Engagement: Prohibiting other forms of collaboration with federal immigration enforcement that negatively affect public safety and undermine police-community relations.
This ordinance does not inhibit the Pawtucket Police Department from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when required by judicial authority or federal law. Instead, it ensures that collaboration occurs within the bounds of legality and in ways that protect all residents of Pawtucket, fostering a safer and more inclusive community. We must emphasize the urgency of adopting and passing this ordinance. The immigrant communities of Pawtucket are vital to the city’s cultural, social, and economic fabric. Residents currently are living in constant fear of being targeted or unfairly separated from their families. We request the Pawtucket City Council formally review, adopt, and pass the attached model ordinance.
Sincerely,
Harrison Tuttle
President
Black Lives Matter Rhode Island Political Action Committee
