Mayor Brett Smiley Signs Executive Order Prohibiting Use of City Property for Civil Immigration Enforcement Activities

Executive Order protects the safety and well-being of all Providence neighbors, prohibiting civil immigration enforcement on City property

Mayor Brett P. Smiley today signed Executive Order 2026-1, Prohibiting the Use of City Property for Civil Immigration Enforcement Activities, prohibiting the use of City-owned property for civil immigration enforcement activities, including as a staging area, processing location or operations base. The order reaffirms Providence's commitment to being a safe and welcoming city for all neighbors of all immigration status, prioritizing the safety of all neighbors, providing essential city services and protecting the well-being of Providence communities.

"The federal actions we are seeing across the nation are threatening immigrant communities and causing fear and uncertainty for all of our neighbors," said Mayor Brett Smiley. "My administration remains committed to ensuring Providence is safe and welcoming for every neighbor, regardless of immigration status. With this executive order, we are making clear that City property will be used to serve our community, not to carry out civil immigration enforcement. Providence's strength comes from our diverse immigrant communities, and we will continue to do everything we can to protect families and maintain trust across our neighborhoods."

The executive order affirms that the Providence Police Department will not, and should not, act as immigration officers and does not ask individuals about their immigration status, and that City departments will not proactively collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The executive order directs City departments to identify relevant City properties, install clear signage prohibiting civil immigration enforcement activities, and makes signage templates available for private landowners and leaseholders to identify non-public areas of their property where civil immigration enforcement activities are prohibited.

This order does not restrict or interfere with the enforcement of criminal law or lawful federal activity unrelated to staging, debriefing, processing or operations for federal civil immigration enforcement on City-owned property.

For more details on policies that help ensure Providence is a safe and welcoming city, and to access signage templates, click here.