This week, ICE made a notable arrest in Providence, Rhode Island, apprehending a member of the notorious MS-13 gang who was also a known fentanyl dealer. At first glance, this seems like a commendable action, right?
However, in a rather perplexing reaction, local Democratic leaders have expressed their concerns over potential collaboration between local police and ICE. They are even calling for an investigation into the matter.
This situation borders on the absurd.
WPRI News in RI reported:
Mayor Brett Smiley described the situation as “complex” but emphasized that it is currently under review.
“I want to assure our community that the Providence police are here to protect them, and they will not act as immigration agents. Initially, we believe our policies were adhered to in this case, though the video footage was indeed startling,” Smiley stated during an unrelated news conference on Tuesday. “But upon further examination and understanding the full context, it appears that the Providence police acted in alignment with our existing policy.”
City Council President Miller acknowledged the ongoing review but insisted that PERA, a third-party organization, should also evaluate the incident.
See below:
An MS-13 fentanyl trafficker was just arrested in Providence, Rhode Island.
The mayor and city council president are pledging to investigate…
Not the MS-13 problem, but to ensure police didn’t assist ICE in arresting him.
Totally insane. pic.twitter.com/rOT664NaRb
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) July 16, 2025
Among the critics is a Democratic lawmaker who has gone so far as to liken ICE to the Gestapo.
‘ACT OF TERROR’: Progressive Rhode Island lawmaker @EnriqueForRI unleashes heinous “Nazi Gestapo” insult at @ICEgov after agents arrested his “neighbor,” but officials turn the tables on the far-left representative with a brutal reality check. The violent illegal alien taken into… pic.twitter.com/TYVU1kVg0d
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 15, 2025
This is a Rhode Island Democratic state rep who called ICE “Nazi Gestapo thugs” for “kidnapping” a “neighbor” in Providence, RI in what he described as an “act of terror”.
The “neighbor” turned out to be Honduran MS-13 gang member w/ pending fentanyl trafficking charges in RI. https://t.co/Cz2sgtto5g
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) July 15, 2025
It seems Democrats may be prioritizing the rights of illegal immigrants over the safety of their constituents. How else can we make sense of this reaction?
