Newport police say one person was arrested Wednesday in a targeted immigration enforcement action on Thames Street near Cottons Court.
The individual was taken into custody in connection with other criminal offenses, according to Lt. Joseph C. Carroll, who oversees the Community Policing Unit and serves as the department’s public information officer.
Carroll stresses there were no other immigration-related law enforcement activities by federal authorities in Newport on Jan. 29.
The police department is addressing the issue after receiving numerous inquiries from local media and community members.
“This was an isolated incident, not part of a larger operation,” Carroll explains in a press release.
Local police worked with federal agencies to verify the details of the enforcement action.
Earlier in the day, Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain had to dispel rumors of ICE activity at Newport Public Schools.
Newport School Superintendent addresses immigration concerns amid rumors
To ensure clear communication, the Newport Police Department has released this information in both English and Spanish.
