by Shannon Kelly ’26 on January 22, 2026
News
On Saturday, Jan. 10 and Sunday, Jan. 11, thousands of Rhode Islanders participated in a rally in conjunction with “ICE Out for Good” outside of the Rhode Island State House. The protests occurred in various parts of the United States, including California, Minnesota, and Georgia. The rallies took place in response to the murder of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis at the hands of an Immigration Customs Enforcement agent that occurred Wednesday, Jan. 7.
These rallies reflect the country’s opposition to the increased hostility and intimidation tactics that have been demonstrated by ICE under the Trump administration. ICE agents are instructed to respond with “minimal force” when attempting to remove people from their cars and that “deadly force” is only acceptable when one’s life is perceived to be in danger. Questions regarding whether or not ICE agents have been properly trained to engage peacefully with others are a focal point of the recent investigation into the killing of Renee Nicole Good and the injuries of civilians in Portland, OR.
On Tuesday, Jan. 13, Homeland Security posted a clip on social media of Stephen Miller, White House Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, saying that “You have immunity to perform your duties, and no one—no city official, no state official, no illegal alien, no leftist agitator or domestic insurrectionist—can prevent you from fulfilling your legal obligations and duties.” This statement ultimately proves to raise the question of the true role of an ICE agent and the credibility of “immunity” coming into play when one’s life may not be in danger.
Many people share sentiments of fear regarding the presence of ICE in their local communities. ICE has been seen in our local community in Providence countless times, as well as being spotted remaining outside of schools.
“ICE Out for Good” is a national coalition. Some of their goals include honoring the lives of those taken by ICE, calling for ICE to leave communities, and creating spaces for collective action. The coalition remains steadfast in demanding accountability for the lives that have been lost, as well as calling towards ending violent ICE raids that are occurring in countless communities across our country. National organizers have said that they “are grounded in moral witness, public accountability, and collective care.”