Commending the Valiant Intervention Efforts of Superior Court Judge Joseph J. Mcburney and Head of Security, Dana Smith on Behalf of His Court Intern Who Was Wrongfully Identified and Targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agents

WHEREAS, A judge's sworn duty is to faithfully and independently uphold the Constitution and laws of the jurisdiction, ensuring fairness and integrity, a responsibility that Superior Court Judge Joseph J. McBurney unequivocally upheld on November th of 2025, when ICE agents unjustly attempted to detain a high school student who was interning for the Judge; and

WHEREAS, The incident began when ICE agents took photos of the Judge's intern inside the Licht Judicial Complex, in conflict with standard courthouse rules, and understandably alarming the young intern; and

WHEREAS, Judge McBurney offered to drive the intern home, but as they attempted to leave, ICE agents surrounded the Judge's car, demanding everyone to exit the vehicle, and threatening to smash the windows to detain the intern; and

WHEREAS, While numerous horrified onlookers watched the tense scene unfolding, ICE agents were confronted by Head of Security Operations for the R.I. Superior Court, Dana Smith who told both the judge and the intern to stay safely inside the car; and

WHEREAS, Eventually, the ICE agents checked the high school intern's ID and confirmed that they had misidentified him; and

WHEREAS, Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell stated, "This egregious incident underscores both the community's and the Judiciary's concerns about how ICE is conducting its operations in Rhode Island"; and

WHEREAS, All Rhode Islanders and the citizens of the United States deserve and have the fundamental and legal right to safety, transparency, and due process, and not the traumatizing chaos and fear escalating in communities across our country; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby commends Superior Court Judge Joseph McBurney on his valiant intervention efforts on behalf of his wrongfully identified and targeted high school intern by ICE agents; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Joseph J. McBurney and Dana Smith.