Providence councilor seeks to strengthen act shielding undocumented immigrants from ICE

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Another ordinance being introduced tonight is an amendment to the city’s Community-Police Relations Act.

The act protects undocumented residents from federal immigration enforcement.

City Councilor Justin Roias is introducing an amendment to the language in the Community-Police Relations Act.

The act has been in effect since 2017.

It already establishes ways to hold police accountable to the community and prevent racial and other forms of discriminatory profiling.

It also requires police departments to collect electronic data on race at traffic stops along with the federal identification of the officer.

The amendment calls for additional definitions of federal immigration authority, immigration enforcements, judicial warrants and definitions for safe havens including places of worship, public libraries and schools.

The amendment also adds clarification to Providence police working with federal agencies.

This includes only allowing federal immigration authorities access to premises with an arrest warrant, probable cause and naming a specific person.

Providence schools, places of worship, health facilities and courts will not grant access to their premises for any federal immigration authority.

The specification of language in the council’s agenda comes as the incoming Trump administration’s plans to overhaul ICE.

Providence is already a sanctuary city.

A city spokesperson for Mayor Brett Smiley said the mayor has affirmed Providence police will not be immigration officers.

Policies will remain the same, and the city will not proactively collaborate with ICE.

The ordinance would take effect once passed by the city council.

These amendments to the Providence Community-Police Relations Act will be introduced Thursday at 6 p.m.