Protest outside of RI Hospital after ‘ICE Alert’ post on social media
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Protesters gathered outside of Rhode Island Hospital Thursday afternoon.
According to a social media post from the Party for Socialism and Liberation Rhode Island, the demonstration was in response to reported Immigration and Customs Enforcement action.
In a social media post, the group asked members of the public to come “defend our neighbors.”
In addition, Providence City Council Chief of Staff June Rose said a person was “taken off the streets” in the Federal Hill neighborhood Thursday morning.
An attorney with the group said he was contacted via a network of attorneys that “works to protect the rights of immigrants.”
Attorney Kelvin Santos said he attempted to speak with a person protesters initially believed was in ICE custody inside the hospital, but that request was denied.
“I came over here and I attempted to speak with the individual, and apparently he is in ICE custody,” Santos said. “We were denied access to speak with either him or with ICE.”
A spokesperson for the City of Providence said that the Providence Fire Department was called for an “individual who had been tased” and that Providence police were responding to the protest, but the city was unaware of any federal agency’s investigation.
State Rep. David Morales posted a picture from the protest on social media with the caption “In Providence, we show up and defend our immigrant community.”
In Providence, we show up and defend our immigrant community.
Within minutes of an ICE sighting at RI Hospital, dozens of neighbors mobilized to keep our community safe. pic.twitter.com/MpQIcegUPr
— RI State Rep. David Morales (@DavidMoralesRI) April 24, 2025
ABC6 News previously reported about the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s ICE Alert Line.
An ABC6 News crew on scene saw the protesters gathered outside the emergency room at 3 p.m.
Most protesters had left by 5 p.m.
The group of protesters said it was their understanding the patient had left the hospital.
A spokesperson for Brown University Health told ABC6 News: “Rhode Island Hospital is operating as normal and patient care has not been impacted by today’s protest.”
According to the National Immigration Law Center, agencies like ICE need a warrant to access private areas of hospitals like Rhode Island Hospital.
In a statement, Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos said her office was monitoring the incident:
My office and I are closely monitoring reports that ICE agents may be refusing a Rhode Islander their right to due process by preventing them from speaking with their lawyer.
We are still learning all of the facts involved in today’s events, and I cannot speak with certainty about every detail of this incident. However, there are no circumstances under which we can tolerate the erosion of the Constitution. If this man is being prevented from speaking with his attorney, then I call on ICE to immediately to allow him access to counsel.
The rights enshrined in our Constitution, especially the right to due process, are our only safeguard against authoritarianism. If we do not immediately and vocally protect the first people to be stripped of those rights, then eventually all people will be stripped of those rights.
ABC6 News reached out to ICE for comment but has not yet heard back.
This is a developing story and will be updated as we learn more.
