Providence, RI— Governor Lincoln D. Chafee announced today that Rhode Island's executive agencies, including the Rhode Island Departments of Corrections and Public Safety, will be required to adopt a new policy relative to under what circumstances ICE detainers will be honored.
"With this update, Rhode Island is ensuring consistency across agencies, and embracing good and improved policy, which better protects safety and people's rights," Governor Chafee said. "I commend the related executive agencies in our state for working together to develop the right course of action."
The new policy follows:
"Agents of the Rhode Island executive branch shall not detain an individual pursuant to an ICE Detainer, as defined in the following sentence, unless ICE has obtained a judicial order of deportation or removal from the United States for the individual. An "ICE Detainer" means a civil immigration detainer issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE"), a component of the Department of Homeland Security, pursuant to 8 C.F.R. § 287.7.
"If an individual is detained pursuant to an ICE Detainer, the detaining agency shall deliver notice of detention to the individual. Any individual held on such an ICE Detainer shall be detained no more than 48 hours beyond the time when the individual would have otherwise been released, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
"This policy shall be effective immediately, and may be modified as necessary to comply with applicable law."