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.

Providence has tightened limits on police cooperation with ICE, drawing pushback from the Trump administration and placing Rhode Island at the center of a broader legal fight over immigration enforcement
How ancient Rome, leap years and human psychology turned Jan. 1 into the world’s most popular fresh start
From lunar missions and eclipses to supermoons, auroras and a fading interstellar comet, 2026 promises a busy year in the skies
Bryant, URI and Johnson & Wales reached new heights, the Patriots stunned the NFL, and high school dynasties rolled on in a year full of highs — and hard lessons
Dr. Rasha Alawieh was deported to her native Lebanon in March
As we head into a new year, the Possibly team decided to think about all of our episodes, and how they might inspire our resolutions for 2026. Here’s what some of us had to say