‘Indefensible act’: McKee, Magaziner respond to ICE detainment of teen intern

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Thursday’s ICE detainment of a 16-year-old Rhode Island Superior Court intern prompted response from several state officials.

Rhode Island Congressman Seth Magaziner issued a statement on the arrest, reading in part:

The incident today in Providence involving a Superior Court judge and the wrongful detainment of an intern by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement is completely unacceptable.

This is yet another example of the disregard for civil liberties by immigration enforcement under the Trump Administration.

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee released a statement on the incident, reading in part:

Today, ICE agents wrongfully detained a high school intern outside the Superior Court—an outrageous and indefensible act that could have completely upended a young person’s life. Rhode Islanders should not have to fear federal agents operating with such reckless disregard for the law and human dignity.

This was not a harmless mistake. It was the direct result of callous and chaotic policies by the Trump Administration. Moreover, ICE’s failure to exercise even a shred of due diligence is shameful and underscores just how broken and dangerous these federal policies are.

Lt. Governor Sabina Matos also weighed in through an emailed statement Friday, reading in part:

Yesterday’s attempted abduction of a Rhode Island Superior Court intern by ICE drives home the danger of flooding our streets with masked thugs who can’t tell the difference between a hardened criminal and a high school student. We must cease these rogue operations and allow law enforcement to be led by the local officers who actually know their community.