In a stunning display of open defiance against federal immigration law, the far-left City Council of Providence, Rhode Island, has come under intense scrutiny after it was revealed they spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to distribute flyers instructing illegal immigrants on how to evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The flyers reportedly told recipients to “DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR” if confronted by ICE agents—a blatant attempt to obstruct lawful enforcement.
On June 27, 2025, media reports confirmed the City Council’s involvement in mailing these so-called “Know Your Rights” pamphlets to residents, effectively encouraging lawbreakers to resist federal authorities. Providence City Council President Rachel Miller defended the controversial move, claiming it was a necessary response to what she called the “reckless cruelty” of the Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown.
Miller stated, “The Providence City Council is partnering with organizations that represent our diverse community to promote safety and inclusion in the face of fear and uncertainty that pervades our city’s immigrant communities due to the reckless cruelty of the Trump administration.” She doubled down on her support by hailing immigrants as “vital” to Providence for nearly 400 years and insisting the council was simply encouraging residents to “educate themselves about their constitutional rights.”
But the political backlash was swift and fierce. The Rhode Island Republican Party condemned the council’s actions as not only irresponsible but outright illegal. In a scathing statement, the party accused the council members of “ignoring their oath” and “mocking it,” calling on authorities to investigate the misuse of public funds—\$17,000 spent on a campaign designed to help those who broke the law avoid consequences.
“Every member of the Council swore to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the United States and Rhode Island,” the statement read. “But instead of protecting legal residents and respecting their duty, they spent your money to help those who entered the country illegally figure out how to avoid accountability.”
Jow Powers, Chair of the Rhode Island GOP, described the City Council’s stunt as “political theater” and “government malpractice.” He warned, “The Providence City Council used public funds to push propaganda that undermines federal law, all while gouging taxpayers.”
Meanwhile, the City Council’s Pro Tempore, Juan M. Pichardo, doubled down on the narrative that Providence is “a city of immigrants” and framed the mailers as simply a way to remind residents—regardless of legal status—of their “fundamental American rights” to live peacefully and prosper.
This tone-deaf defense ignores a crucial point: encouraging illegal immigrants to ignore lawful orders from ICE undermines the rule of law and puts legal residents at risk. Providence’s taxpayers deserve better than their hard-earned dollars funding a political campaign to shield lawbreakers and weaken America’s borders.
The Biden and Trump administrations alike have warned that local governments interfering with federal immigration enforcement not only violate the law but also threaten public safety. Providence’s City Council appears to be embracing this lawlessness, turning a blind eye to the chaos unchecked illegal immigration brings to communities.
This is not just an ideological debate. It’s about holding elected officials accountable when they use government resources to subvert federal law and endanger citizens. Rhode Island’s taxpayers must demand answers—and swift action—before more taxpayer dollars are wasted on enabling illegal immigration instead of securing the community.
The question remains: will Providence’s elected leaders put the interests of law-abiding Americans first, or will they continue down this reckless path of open defiance against immigration enforcement? For the sake of Rhode Island’s future, one hopes it’s the former.
