The Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance (AMOR) is a grassroots community support network that advocates to make individuals safer in the community where they live. Six organizations banded together quickly after the first Trump administration took over, sensing changes that would soon put people in danger. Their aim is to fight back against detention, deportation, police violence, and state-sponsored violence & abuse. They offer support with case assistance, community information, leadership development, mental health, transportation and community response. The Pawtucket-based organization is celebrating eight years of resistance and helping people in need.
The mission of the non-profit organization is to interrupt state violence and support people impacted by the inhumane immigration system. This is achieved through community organizing, advocacy, and the creation of safe, healing, accessible, and empowering community spaces. Community safety is extremely important and they partner with willing individuals and organizations to help make that happen. Organizations include Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM), The FANG Collective, Colectivo Sin Fronteras, and Ocean State Advocacy.
AMOR does its part to make the world a safer and fairer place one case at a time. They want humane immigration practices and safe border crossings. They want everyone to have access to due process and basic resources, including mental and physical health, housing, food, language and education. They work diligently to provide that for migrants, Black and Indigenous people.
In a statement taken from their website, it quotes, “We envision a world where all prisons and detention centers are closed. Where our communities are able to defend themselves against the growing use of surveillance technology across all aspects of our lives. Where migrant and refugee communities are empowered to adapt, resist, and fight their actual socio-political conditions as part of a broad network of resistance.”
Advocacy and education are other important initiatives that AMOR focuses on. They are working on advancing legislation and also increasing awareness of legislation as it pertains to immigrant rights and systemic racism. They offer know-your-rights workshops and forums teaching about available benefits and legislation updates.
The majority of their cases are requesting assistance with the immigration process and resource funds for any procedures. These cases are difficult, time consuming and expensive, which is daunting for families. Understanding this, AMOR expanded their services to include Health management (ways to obtain care, available benefits, insurance), public benefits (utility subsidy), work education, transportation, counseling and food programs. They listen to the community and adapt as best they can to incoming needs.
AMOR has been demanding the closure of Wyatt Detention Center since 2019 when they reinstated their contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after facing pressure from their investors. They introduced legislation in 2023 to ban ICE contracts with Wyatt. Detained community members have reported inhumane conditions to them, including lack of sanitation, access to food and medical neglect. They aim to distribute $4,000/ month to people experiencing detention.
AMOR strives to help their community; they know that this mission can’t be successful without the support of their community. They have a steady stream of monthly donors, though they are in need of more to help with the increasing demand of people experiencing detention. They have six initiatives that people can get involved with in any capacity they see fit (as small as requesting information to joining one of the working teams): Immigration Team (support those caught up in the immigration system), Community Care (emotional support and healing services), Interpretation & Language Justice Team (provide interpreters and translators), Transportation Team (provide rides for check-ins, appointments and meetings), Fundraising Team (coordinate fundraising events) and Shut Down Wyatt.
In one of their mission statements, they write, “AMOR envisions a world where the community has the power to ensure sovereignty. Where families do not fear being separated due to their documentation status and where black and brown communities are able to protect themselves against police violence and immigration raids. AMOR envisions a world where mental and physical health are the number one measure of community safety. Furthermore, we envision a society where individual acts of hate and state-sponsored hate are defeated by frontline community resistance.”
