A man in ICE custody was brought to Rhode Island Hospital and was reportedly not allowed to speak with his attorney.
Protesters gathered at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence Thursday afternoon after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were reportedly present. ICE is targeting a patient, and they are at risk, Party for Socialism and Liberation Rhode Island said on Facebook, calling on community members to mobilize after several agents were reportedly sighted in the hospital. The demonstration was organized when a man in ICE custody was brought to the hospital, Kelvin Santos, an attorney who said he is representing the man, told The Providence Journal. Though Santos legally represents the man, ICE and the hospital were not allowing him to see his client. ICE attempted to detain a member of our community, June Rose, chief of staff for Providence City Council, told the Journal. They tased the member of our community, who had a medical incident, and he was brought here to Rhode Island Hospital. The hospital remained open during the protest, and protesters did not block the entrance to the emergency room. The protesters had mostly dispersed by about 5 p.m., according to ABC6 News. Rhode Island State Rep. David Morales praised the protest on X. In Providence, we show up and defend our immigrant community. Within minutes of an ICE sighting at RI Hospital, dozens of neighbors mobilized to keep our community safe. The person in ICE custody was not identified Thursday. We are still learning all of the facts involved in today’s events, and I cannot speak with certainty about every detail of this incident, Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos said in a statement. However, there are no circumstances under which we can tolerate the erosion of the Constitution. If this man is being prevented from speaking with his attorney, then I call on ICE to immediately to allow him access to counsel. ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night.
