Rhode Island Democrats are pushing a new bill that would block local police departments from hiring certain ICE agents, ramping up the state’s resistance to President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
The proposal, dubbed the ICE OUT Act, would bar Rhode Island law enforcement agencies from employing anyone hired as a sworn officer by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on or after Jan. 20, 2025. Supporters say it’s about trust and standards. Critics call it political discrimination dressed up as “reform” at a time when recruiting is already a struggle.
“A law enforcement agency… shall not employ any individual who was hired as a sworn officer of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency on or after January 20, 2025,” the bill reads.
The companion bills in the Rhode Island House and Senate would amend the state’s Law Enforcement Officers’ Due Process Accountability and Transparency Act to add the restriction. The policy would take effect in October 2026 and would not apply to officers already hired out of ICE’s ranks.