On January 23, 2025, FBI and Homeland Security officers raided the office of Joseph Molina Flynn, an immigration attorney in Providence, Rhode Island.
The search occurred just days after President Donald Trump’s administration began ramping up efforts to enforce immigration laws, particularly targeting sanctuary cities.
The Raid and Allegations Against Flynn
Federal agents were seen removing evidence from Flynn’s office, located in downtown Providence, a sanctuary city known for its protections for undocumented immigrants.
Videos shared online showed agents hauling away boxes of documents, which were loaded into black SUVs and police vehicles parked outside.
While an FBI spokesperson confirmed they were conducting “court-authorized activity,” details about the nature of the investigation were limited.
Sources familiar with the case told WPRI News that federal agents were probing Flynn for allegations of defrauding clients seeking representation in immigration-related matters.
However, they clarified that the raid was not directly tied to Trump’s ongoing crackdown on sanctuary cities, including Providence.
Despite these efforts, the timing of the raid coincides with Trump’s broader immigration policy, which aims to deport illegal immigrants, especially those from cities resisting federal enforcement.
Joseph Molina Flynn’s Background and Resignation
Flynn, originally from Colombia, had a notable career.
He was the first openly gay person and the first undocumented migrant to serve as a judge in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 2021.
Flynn’s immigrant journey began when he moved to the U.S. from Colombia at the age of nine.
After overstaying his visitor’s visa, he lived undocumented for 15 years before obtaining his lawful permanent resident status.
He has openly shared his struggles with learning English and overcoming adversity after arriving in a country plagued by violence.
Flynn’s qualifications include a summa cum laude degree in accounting from Johnson & Wales University, a law degree from the University of Michigan, and the founding of his law firm, Molina Flynn Law Offices, in 2015.
Flynn also taught at Roger Williams University Law School, where he focused on the intersection of crime and immigration in a field he dubbed “Crimmigration.”
Following news of the FBI raid, the mayor of Central Falls, Maria Rivera, expressed concern over the situation, leading Flynn to resign from his role as a municipal court judge.
Rivera emphasized that accountability and transparency were key to maintaining the integrity of the court system.
Legal and Political Context
The timing of the raid coincides with local political efforts to protect undocumented immigrants in Providence.
The city was in the process of amending an ordinance to protect undocumented migrants, limiting local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration officials.
Among the proposed changes was a restriction on providing information about undocumented individuals to federal agents without a judicial warrant.
The situation in Providence has been exacerbated by Trump’s administration, which has made cracking down on sanctuary cities a top priority.
On his first day in office, President Trump directed federal prosecutors to investigate any state or local officials who resist immigration enforcement.
The administration’s stance on sanctuary cities has been clear: local authorities must comply with federal immigration law, or they may face criminal prosecution.
Impact of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
Since President Trump took office, federal immigration enforcement has escalated.
In the first days of his presidency, a sweep of sanctuary cities led to the arrest of more than 300 illegal migrants.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has since lodged hundreds of deportation detainers, targeting individuals with criminal records.
According to ICE, over 1,000 of the 1,300 migrants arrested in the early days of the administration were criminals, fueling ongoing tension between local governments and federal immigration authorities.
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