In light of President Trump’s executive orders attempting to refashion the U.S. immigration system, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island has called on all 39 municipalities in the state to adopt policies modelled on the Municipal Immigrant Protection Ordinance, which aims to limit law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The ordinances would place restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection agents questioning an individual in the custody of local law enforcement “solely for civil immigration enforcement purposes.” These law enforcement agencies would also be prohibited from holding an individual in custody past their legally mandated release date solely because of a request from ICE.
Other protections include ensuring municipal resources are not used to create a federal registry based on race, religion and national origin, among other demographic categories. Law enforcement would limit its participation in the surveillance of political and religious groups.
Steven Brown, the executive director of ACLU R.I., wrote in an email to The Herald that his chapter proposed an identical ordinance in 2017, following Trump’s first inauguration.
“We believe the threats to the immigrant community are even greater now than they were in 2017,” Brown wrote. “That is why we decided to once again make this effort.”
Some of the provisions listed in the 2017 ordinance were adopted by Providence and other municipalities within the state, Brown said.
Roxie Richner, the press secretary for the Providence City Council, wrote in an email to The Herald that the council is “committed to finding safe and appropriate ways to defend our undocumented communities who face significant risk and uncertainty under the Trump administration.”
“Providence remains committed to being a safe and welcoming city for all neighbors of all immigration status,” Providence City Spokesperson Anthony Vega wrote in an email to The Herald. “Providence Police will not act as immigration officers or collaborate with ICE to provide information.”
If these measures are introduced in the city council, Vega added that the mayor would consider the ordinance after it is reviewed by the city council.
Tracy Nelson, Cranston’s city clerk, wrote in an email to The Herald that no version of the ACLU’s ordinance has been introduced this year.
Cranston City Council Member Christopher Buonanno said that he had a “neutral” opinion on the ACLU’s proposal.
But he told The Herald that Cranston residents who are in custody for some minor, nonviolent infractions should not have to face the threat of deportation due to local law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE.
“If there are people that are repeatedly arrested and repeatedly have negative interaction with law enforcement … that’s a different story,” Buonanno said. “I think those need to be looked at on a case by case basis.”
The ACLU R.I.’s proposal comes at a moment when some local policymakers are wary of expanding immigration protections under the new Trump administration. The White House has threatened to revoke funding from “sanctuary cities” where local law enforcement limits its cooperation with ICE.
In January, Providence City Council Member Justin Roias (Ward 4) introduced a set of amendments to the Providence Community-Public Relations Act designed to bolster protections for immigrants, The Herald previously reported.
Since then, city officials have slowed discussions about the amendment, with Roias telling the Public’s Radio that he wanted to be “mindful of not becoming a target and having ICE double down on our city.”
Roias did not respond to The Herald’s request for additional comment.
But Brown said that “every blue state already has a target on their backs.”
“Being fearful of doing anything is precisely what the Trump Administration is hoping for,” Brown added. “Now is the time for public officials to be proactive, not passive, in light of the very real threats facing the immigrant community.”
Brown said that the ACLU R.I.’s ordinance was also “carefully crafted to ensure that it does not violate any federal obligation that the state or municipalities might have.” In its letter, the ACLU R.I. also assured recipients that the Trump administration would meet “substantial constitutional hurdles” if it tried to withdraw funding from sanctuary jurisdictions.
The White House did not respond to The Herald’s request for comment.
Lily Seltz is a former staff writer for post- magazine and new writer for the The Herald. She studies English (Nonfiction) with a certificate in Migration Studies. She is always searching for a better bagel.
