McKee Says He Stands With Rhode Island Immigrants Lacking Legal Status

RI police will continue to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on criminal matters, the governor said

Gov. McKee during a Statehouse news conference earlier this month.
Gov. McKee during a Statehouse news conference earlier this month.
Ian Donnis / The Public’s Radio
Share
Gov. McKee during a Statehouse news conference earlier this month.
Gov. McKee during a Statehouse news conference earlier this month.
Ian Donnis / The Public’s Radio
McKee Says He Stands With Rhode Island Immigrants Lacking Legal Status
Copy

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said he will stand with Rhode Island residents here without legal status, even as they face heightened immigration enforcement by the Trump administration.

State police, however, will continue to work with federal law enforcement officials on criminal matters.

“We’re going to continue what we’re doing. If there [are] people who are violating or criminals that need to be (arrested), we work with (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) — our State Police does that right now,” McKee said. “But we’re not going to be profiling or helping to, you know, create problems that violate the Constitution and we’re going to make sure we stand by the people that live in the state.”

The governor spoke at The Public’s Radio studio Thursday during a taping of Political Roundtable.

The Trump administration has signaled it may investigate and prosecute local and state officials who do not enforce its approach to policing immigration.

This story was reported by The Public’s Radio. You can read the entire story here.

Alex Houston’s residency at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and the government shutdown both began October 1
The Republican from Tiverton served three terms in the Rhode Island House of Representatives
The use of a former federal prosecutor raised fresh insights on the Washington Bridge saga. Plus, is Rhode Island doing enough to promote tourism?

After questioning RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, Rep. June Speakman says she’s troubled by what she sees as little internal accountability or in-house expertise guiding the state’s major infrastructure projects
Customs and Border Protection officers detained the woman, who holds a valid green card, because of an outstanding warrant for shoplifting more than a dozen years old