Rhode Island leaders say they will not support Trump's plans for 'mass deportations' | ABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island leaders will not be supporting president-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts.

Trump has mentioned plans of carrying out mass deportations of people during his second term by invoking the military and bringing back the Alien Enemies Act.

However, both Governor Dan McKee and Mayor Brett Smiley were both similar in their statements of ensuring that Providence remains committed to being a safe and welcoming city for all neighbors of “all immigration status.”

“Mayor Smiley has affirmed that the Providence Police Department will not and should not be immigration officers,” said a spokesperson for Smiley.

“Our policy remains the same. If an individual is in the Providence Police’s custody, that information has always been available to ICE. However the City has not and will not proactively collaborate with ICE to provide this information and will not change this policy.” 

In a statement from McKee shared by Communications Director Andrea Palagi, the Governor’s office said that the Rhode Island State Police “is committed to ensuring the safety of Rhode Islanders and prioritizes investigating and preventing violent crimes.”

“While RISP cooperates with ICE on the lawful detention of violent criminals, they are not immigration officers and will not expend any time and resources to support mass deportation efforts,” the statement continued.