More than 100 people gathered on College Hill on Thursday, November 20, 2025, to protest immigration enforcement near the Rhode Island Superior Court after social media posts reported the presence of federal immigration agents just blocks from Brown University. The crowd, which included many Brown students, community organizers, and local lawyers, turned what had been planned as a quiet press event into a loud street protest after a 16-year-old court intern was briefly taken into custody by federal immigration officers earlier in the day.
Organizers said the teenager, who had been working as an intern at Superior Court, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before later being released. That rare reversal, they argued, showed that public pressure on immigration enforcement around courthouses and campuses on College Hill can have an immediate effect. Demonstrators quickly redirected their message to focus not only on the single case, but on the broader pattern of ICE presence near courts and the Brown University campus that has worried many immigrant families.
What sparked the protest
The protest was called by the Deportation Defense Network of Rhode Island (DDN), a local advocacy group that has pushed since July 2025 for all courts in the state to offer virtual immigration hearings, trials, and conferences. The group had originally planned a press conference outside the courthouse to support remote hearings, which they say would reduce detentions that can happen when ICE officers wait near court buildings.
Instead, as word spread that a young intern had been picked up and then released, the meeting changed into a fast-growing rally focused on immigration enforcement practices and safety on College Hill.
What happened during the protest
As the crowd moved along College Street, demonstrators chanted, “No hate, no fear, ICE is not welcome here,” their voices echoing between the courthouse and nearby college buildings. Many held handmade signs calling for public money to go to healthcare and education instead of immigration enforcement.
Other visible demands and messages included:
- Posters and signs demanding virtual courts now
- Calls for funding priorities to shift from enforcement to social services
- Emphasis on community safety and access to justice
Some protesters said the event highlighted how close federal immigration enforcement has come to the daily life of Brown University students and staff. With the reported ICE presence near the Superior Court, which sits within walking distance of campus, students described a sense of unease affecting classmates, neighbors, and coworkers who worry about loved ones being stopped during routine court visits.
The detention, release, and community response
DDN organizer Maya Lehrer told those gathered that ICE agents have appeared on College Hill in the past, but she described this as the first time a detention was reversed after it began. She linked that outcome to the fast response from local lawyers, organizers, and witnesses who shared information online and arrived quickly outside the court.
Lehrer said the case showed how organized community action can help defend access to the justice system for people who might otherwise be taken away before their cases are heard.
Timeline (short summary)
| Timeframe | Event |
|---|---|
| Morning, Nov 20, 2025 | Reports of ICE presence near Superior Court |
| During day | 16-year-old court intern briefly detained by ICE |
| Shortly after | Local lawyers, organizers, and witnesses respond; intern released |
| Afternoon | Planned press event becomes a larger street protest |
Speakers and key messages
- Miriam Weizenbaum, lawyer and co-founder of the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island, emphasized the right to reach the courts without fear of arrest.
“If people believe they could be detained outside a courthouse by immigration agents, they may avoid coming to court at all,” she said, arguing this undercuts one of the most basic promises of the justice system.
- Diego Castillo, a student organizer, said the demonstration showed immigration enforcement is part of everyday worries on College Hill. He warned that ICE sightings on streets linking the Superior Court and campus send a message beyond one family or case, and urged the community to treat it as a shared concern rather than only an “immigrant issue.”
Demands: virtual hearings and local rule changes
The call for virtual hearings is central to DDN’s work in Rhode Island. Since July 2025, the group has pushed state leaders and court officials to ensure that immigration-related proceedings and other sensitive court business can take place by video whenever possible.
DDN and allies argue virtual access would:
- Reduce the chance someone attending court could be detained because ICE waits nearby
- Protect witnesses, victims, tenants, and families from fear of encountering federal agents
- Preserve participation in the justice system and public trust
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, similar debates in other states have shown courthouse enforcement actions can influence whether immigrants feel safe taking part in the legal system at all.
Official responses and information gaps
- Providence police officials said they had not been notified of any ICE operations that day and reported no advance coordination with federal officers about activity on or near College Hill.
- ICE, when reached for comment, did not provide any response about the reported presence on College Street or the brief detention of the intern.
Protesters said the lack of clear information about what happened reinforced their belief that public, visible pressure is necessary.
Community concerns and broader impacts
Residents and demonstrators expressed worry that immigration enforcement near the Superior Court will deter people from participating in court processes. Specific concerns included:
- Parents avoiding family court
- Tenants staying away from housing court
- Crime victims not testifying
- Witnesses or those with legal obligations skipping court appearances
They fear these outcomes will push communities deeper into the shadows and erode trust in the justice system.
Federal officials maintain they have authority to enforce immigration law nationwide, including near courts. Information about ICE’s role is available at ice.gov. Protesters counter that exercising that authority near courthouses and campuses harms public safety and fairness.
What’s next
As the sun set over College Hill, demonstrators promised that Thursday’s protest would not be the last. They said they plan to:
- Continue pressing court leaders and state officials in Rhode Island to expand virtual hearings.
- Organize further public actions and legal advocacy to push back against enforcement tactics near courts.
- Keep highlighting the potential chilling effects enforcement has on access to justice.
Advocates underscored that while the intern was released, the incident left lasting damage to trust between immigrant communities and the justice system — a challenge they say will require sustained policy change and community vigilance to repair.
Over 100 protesters, including Brown students and local lawyers, rallied after reports of ICE near the Rhode Island Superior Court. A 16-year-old court intern was briefly detained then released following rapid legal and community intervention. Organizers, led by the Deportation Defense Network, called for virtual immigration hearings to reduce courthouse detentions, redirect funding to social services, and increase transparency. Protesters warned enforcement near courts threatens access to justice and pledged sustained advocacy and legal pressure.
