News Summary
The Providence City Council has taken steps to limit police cooperation with ICE, following community protests and a committee meeting that revealed significant opposition. The proposal aims to amend the Community-Police Relations Act to clarify police involvement in immigration enforcement. This comes after increased scrutiny of the police department’s actions regarding ICE arrests. While some community leaders support the ordinance for enhancing safety, opposition from certain political candidates highlights a broader debate on immigration enforcement at the local level.
Providence City Council has advanced a proposal aimed at limiting police cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a heated committee meeting marked by community opposition. On October 6, 2025, over 50 protestors gathered to voice their concerns regarding the relationship between the Providence Police Department and immigration enforcement, leading the ordinance committee to vote in favor of the proposal initiated by Councilor Justin Roias in January.
The committee’s voting outcome revealed three members supporting the proposal, while two members, Committee Chairman Pedro Espinal and Councilor Oscar Vargas, abstained. This proposal seeks to amend the city’s Community-Police Relations Act, which was originally enacted in 2017 and already prohibits police assistance in federal immigration enforcement absent a criminal warrant.
Speakers attending the meeting highlighted significant apprehensions about police engagement with ICE. Among the concerns was the fear articulated by a local estate planning attorney that police actions could enable ICE to conduct operations against community members. Another community advocate argued that redefining policing rules would contribute to enhanced safety across the city.
The proposed ordinance aims to establish clearer limitations on police involvement with federal immigration enforcement activities. This move comes after increased scrutiny of the police department’s actions following an incident on July 13, in which officers were filmed at the scene of an ICE arrest. Body camera footage revealed potential police complicity in assisting ICE by requesting landlord access without forcibly entering properties. The Providence External Review Authority (PERA) subsequently determined that the police’s involvement constituted prohibited assistance to ICE, prompting recommendations for more explicit operational guidelines.
In response to the growing controversy, Mayor Brett Smiley issued an executive order on September 22, reiterating that police should only enforce local laws and must comply with existing policies regarding immigration enforcement. However, Smiley expressed concerns about a provision in the proposed ordinance that allows community organizations to challenge police conduct in court, indicating fears of potential legal liability for the city.
The ACLU executive director supported the notion that such court challenges would lead to increased accountability within the police department. City Councilor Miguel Sanchez also reinforced the importance of ensuring that public servants remain accountable in their role to uphold the law. Meanwhile, support for the ordinance extended to State Representative David Morales, who submitted written backing, emphasizing the necessity of establishing trust in public institutions.
Conversely, opposition emerged from GOP mayoral candidate Allen Waters, who defended police collaboration with ICE, expressing concerns that this stance was not well-received during the public hearing. The ordinance is now set to move forward to the full Providence City Council for additional consideration and will require two passages to achieve final approval.
This ongoing conversation in Providence highlights the community’s desire for clear guidelines and accountability regarding police relations with immigration enforcement, reflecting broader national discussions on the role of local law enforcement in federal immigration matters.
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Additional Resources
- Rhode Island Current
- Providence Journal
- NBC Boston
- Boston Globe
- Google Search: Police Immigration Cooperation
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