Overview

• Mayor Brett Smiley signed the "A Secure Providence for All" executive order clarifying that city officers will not proactively collaborate with ICE on civil immigration matters unless there is a criminal warrant.
• The order codifies existing city law and police policy and notes that Providence will continue routine criminal investigations with federal partners such as the FBI and ATF.
• The directive also requires clear officer identification and body‑worn cameras and prohibits masked faces, with limited safety exceptions such as undercover work.
• The policy shift comes after a July 13 ICE pursuit and crash during an attempted arrest of Ivan Rene Mendoza Meza, which a civilian panel said saw officers facilitate civil immigration enforcement, a finding police leadership and the union dispute.
• Four officers were disciplined for body‑camera policy violations linked to the incident, and the move arrives as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi pressures Rhode Island over so‑called sanctuary policies and threatens federal funding.