UPDATED: Providence Police Illegally Assisted ICE in Raid, Says External Review Panel

UPDATED: Providence Police Illegally Assisted ICE in Raid, Says External Review Panel

The Providence External Review Authority (PERA) said that after reviewing Providence Police Department (PPD) actions during an ICE raid in the city in July, that Providence Police violated city laws. 

Specifically, PERA says that during the raid, Providence Police assisted ICE - and lacked required operational body cameras - in violation of city ordinances. 

Now, PERA is calling on Providence Police to “establish and release clear operational guidelines” as to how to respond to ICE or other federal agency requests for assistance related to immigration enforcement activities” - within ten days. 

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The incident stemmed from Providence Police being called to a multi-vehicle car accident involving ICE officials who were pursuing a man through the city. 

ICE ultimately arrested the suspect after Providence Police escorted a woman and a minor from a residence where the suspect ran into following the collision. 

“PPD actions on July 13, 2025, constituted prohibited assistance to ICE under both City Ordinance § 18½-4(3) and GO 510.01(C),” said PERA in a memo sent Friday to Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s office as well as the City Council’s. 

“The assistance was operationally significant, contributing to the apprehension of Mendoza-Meza in an immigration-only enforcement action,” said PERA. “Additionally, officers violated General Order 320.02 (BWC Program) by failing to operate and record with body-worn cameras throughout the incident without exigent justification or required documentation, undermining transparency and accountability.”

SEE CHART OF PERA FINDINGS BELOW

PERA is also calling for police to include the name of the ICE agent involved in a corrected police report. 

Smiley’s office responded, saying, "The Providence Police Department has received and reviewed PERA's documented conclusions and recommendations regarding the recent incident. Given interactions between local departments and federal agents across the country, the Department is already developing a training bulletin to provide additional direction and to reinforce consistent practices regarding interactions with federal agencies, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This effort reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring all officers understand the Department's approach and expectations. The Providence Police Department remains dedicated to fairness, accountability and building trust with all members of our community."

 

 

PERA Recommendations

On Friday, PERA made the following recommendations to the city: 

• PPD establishes and releases clear operational guidelines on the department’s response to ICE or other federal agency requests for assistance related to immigration enforcement activities within 10 days. Guidelines should include express instructions to department personnel that they are not to render any services that directly or indirectly assist federal agencies in conducting civil immigration enforcement. 
• Department personnel were unfamiliar with how to conduct police operations in compliance with GO 510.01 and Ordinance §18 ½ - 4(3). Supervisors expressed the belief that they could not leave the scene until the ICE operation was resolved.  
• PPD conducts department-wide training on updated guidelines within 30 days of establishing guidelines. 
• PPD disciplines officers for violating GO 320.02 in accordance with progressive discipline model with suggested minimum discipline for no recorded prior offenses to be written reprimand and escalate to suspensions as appropriate for personnel with prior offenses. 
• Lt. Brown violated the policy by not having his BWC on during the entire incident. 
• Sgt. Salmons and the other responding officers repeatedly muted their cameras in violation of policy. 
• PPD has had BWC longer than any other RI department and the officers should be proficient in their correct usage and all policy requirements. 
• PPD should correct the accident report narrative and include the name of the ICE agent operator of the vehicle. 
• PPD officers responsible for taking the accident report should be disciplined and retrained on how to properly record information on accident reports.  
• Report back to PERA as to actions taken in accordance with these recommendations.