On October 20, ICE agents confronted a man identified as Sebastian, an undocumented Guatemalan immigrant, in Providence’s Silver Lake neighborhood while he was holding his two young children. The encounter began when ICE agents followed Sebastian’s car, which he reportedly damaged while trying to evade them. After stopping, Sebastian carried his one-year-old daughter and three-year-old son away from the scene. ICE officers questioned him, issued paperwork, and then released him and his children. A video of the incident, shared by local journalist José Julián, quickly went viral, drawing attention to ICE’s enforcement tactics.

Sebastian said agents threatened to forcibly remove his entire family if he missed a court date, though they did not present a deportation order during the encounter. Activists and local officials expressed concern over increased ICE activity in Providence and called for immigration relief. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee condemned the incident, emphasizing the fear it caused children and demanding transparency. Community leaders urged immigrants to seek legal assistance to protect themselves amid rising enforcement. Additional ICE arrests were reported in the area shortly after, highlighting ongoing federal immigration actions in the city.