RI Senate votes to restrain ICE operations, opening door to lawsuits

The Rhode Island Senate on Wednesday approved two bills from the chamber’s majority leader aimed at restricting state and local participation in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and exposing federal officials to lawsuits in state court.

Sen. Frank Ciccone, a Providence Democrat, introduced the legislation in the wake of high-profile misconduct and killings by federal officials in Minneapolis at the start of the year.

“States serve as an important safeguard when questions arise about the protection of constitutional rights,” he said in a statement Wednesday. “Rhode Island has an obligation to ensure that all law enforcement activity carried out within our communities meets the standards set forth in the constitution.” 

His first bill, approved by a 31-7 vote, would let people sue federal immigration officials in state courts for violating the U.S. Constitution, recouping attorneys in addition to damages and injunctions if they win. The statute of limitations would be three years.

Sen. Tiara Mack, a Providence Democrat who cosponsored the proposal, said the bill will set a precedent for states across the country. 

Illinois enacted a similar law in December 2025, while New York adopted restraints on ICE in its fiscal year 2027 budget. A similar law is in process, but not finalized, in the Washington legislature. Vermont enacted similar legislation in April without signature from Republican Gov. Phil Scott.

“As many people have seen over the last 15 months, there has been a gross misuse of federal forces that has led to individuals’ constitutional rights to be impacted,” Mack said. “This is going to be a huge win for Rhode Islanders.”

All four of the chamber’s Republicans voted against the bill, along with Democrats Todd Patalano of Cranston, Leonidas Raptakis of Coventry, and Senate Majority Whip David Tikoian of Smithfield.

Tikoian said he would have supported the proposal, but confused it for Ciccone’s other bill to prohibit state and local law enforcement from participating in federal civil immigration enforcement unless federal authorities have a valid warrant or judicial order. 

“If I thought through that a little better, I would have supported it,” he said in an interview. “But I knew it was going to pass overwhelmingly — I should have read it a little more closely.”

Tikoian still remains opposed to Ciccone’s second bill limiting local law enforcement officers’ cooperation with ICE and other federal agencies. The chamber approved the bill by a 30-8 vote. 

Sen. Brian Thompson, a Woonsocket Democrat, joined the group that opposed Ciccone’s other bill.

The legislation would prohibit federal immigration agents from using secure government facilities and nonpublic police databases to carry out enforcement. It would also bar state and local officials from giving federal authorities advance notice of when someone in their custody will be released or transferred.

Tikoian, a former Rhode Island State Police major and North Providence police chief, said he voted against it because officers “collaborate all the time.”

“We always work with our law enforcement partners,” he said. “To restrict that is not productive.”

But Ciccone said his bill does not prevent cooperation for lawful immigration enforcement action.

“It is about reaffirming that enforcement must occur within the bounds of the law and with respect for the constitutional protections that define our justice system,” he said in a statement.

Ciccone’s bills now head to the House for consideration, where companion legislation has been held for further study by the chamber’s Committee on Judiciary.

Larry Herman, a spokesperson for House Speaker Christopher Blazejewski, said in an email Thursday “these bills are still under consideration.”