Police officers in Rhode Island’s capital city are finally facing consequences after being accused of improperly helping federal immigration agents. They have come under scrutiny from a civilian oversight body for their alleged involvement in an immigration enforcement operation. The Providence External Review Authority, which is known as PERA, found that the city’s police acted in violation of a local ordinance that restricts cooperation with federal immigration agents.
The findings, which were released in a report, assert that the Providence police offered improper assistance to ICE agents during a July operation involving the pursuit of a man suspected of fentanyl trafficking. This incident occurred at a time of heightened immigration enforcement under the current administration, which has been in office for seven months.
