Home Economy Government Smiley reaffirms Providence’s policy not to assist ICE with executive order

Smiley reaffirms Providence’s policy not to assist ICE with executive order

By

Christopher Allen

-

09/22/2025

MS-1125SmileyQA-66-1 — PROVIDENCE MAYOR Brett P. Smiley on Monday issued an executive order codifying an existing city policy that prohibits police officers from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on immigration prosecution or arrests that don’t involve a federal criminal warrant. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

PROVIDENCE – Mayor Brett P. Smiley on Monday issued an executive order codifying an existing city policy that prohibits police officers from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on immigration prosecution or arrests that don’t involve a federal criminal warrant. Titled “A Safe Providence for All,” the order states the department “will remain a

Already a Subscriber? Log in

To Continue Reading This Article

Become a Providence Business News subscriber and get immediate access to all of our premier content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

Critical RI business news and analysis updated daily.
1 year of print (26 issues).
Unlimited access to all subscriber only content on our website, on any device.
Free email alerts.
Annual Book of Lists Print Edition.
All special issues produced during subscription term.

Click Here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article

PBN Branded Content

When Your Period Is Disrupting Your Life, It’s Time to Talk About It

For many women, heavy or irregular menstrual cycles are often brushed off as “normal”—something to…

Learn More

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

PROVIDENCE – Mayor Brett P. Smiley on Monday issued an executive order codifying an existing city policy that prohibits police officers from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on immigration prosecution or arrests that don’t involve a federal criminal warrant. Titled “A Safe Providence for All,” the order states the department “will remain a locally controlled law enforcement agency," will never ask for a person's immigration status, and will continue to be required to wear their standard uniform or authorized business attire. Masks or protective equipment are allowed "for health or safety reasons" but not "for the purposes of concealing identity." "We are a city of immigrants, and we are better for it," said Smiley during a press conference in City Hall. "The Providence police department should not and will not serve as immigration officers." The executive order also "urges" federal law enforcement personnel operating in the city to be in official uniform, wear body cameras, and clearly display the name of the agency they work for. Deriding what he called "the hateful and cruel politics" of the Trump administration, Smiley said there has been a "degrading situation" in recent weeks, with federal agents moving from more targeted actions to a "mass and unidentified enforcement" strategy. "Our policies haven't changed," he said. "We hope to urge change with federal law enforcement." In early September the Providence External Review Authority issued a report alleging that Providence police had aided ICE personnel during the apprehension of alleged MS-13 gang member Ivan Rene Mendoza-Meza by setting up perimeters, moving crowds, gathering intelligence, and providing tactical direction to ICE agents. Wanted on a civil detainer, Mendoza-Meza had illegally reentered the U.S. multiple times and was out on bond for a 2023 conviction tied to fentanyl and cocaine distribution, according to ICE. The Providence Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3 disputed the report, calling its findings “trash.” Christopher Allen is a PBN staff writer. You may contact him at Allen@PBN.com.