by NBC 10 NEWSThu, November 20, 2025 at 6:31 PMUpdated Fri, November 21, 2025 at 1:12 PMRhode Island Supreme and Superior CourtsOfficers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained an intern outside the Licht Judicial Complex in Providence on Thursday, according to the state's judiciary office. The intern is a high school student at the Superior Court. The Rhode Island Supreme Court and Superior Courts. (WJAR)According to a statement from the state's judiciary office, a Superior Court judge intervened and insisted ICE had wrongfully identified the intern. ICE officers confirmed that the intern was not the person they were looking for and he was released.A source familiar with the situation that unfolded at the Superior Court building in Providence Thursday told NBC 10 News that court staff noticed an ICE agent taking pictures inside the courthouse and staff told the person to stop, as photographing in the courthouse is not allowed without permission. The agent appeared to be taking photos of a high school intern in the courtroom of Superior Court Associate Justice Joseph McBurney. As the intern felt uncomfortable with the situation, McBurney offered to give the intern a ride back to school, according to the source. Outside the courthouse, ICE agents then surrounded McBurney’s car and threatened to smash the windows if the intern was not handed over, the source told NBC 10 News. The source said McBurney tried to explain that the person in his car was a court intern, but agents removed the student from the judge’s car and put him in one of their vehicles for several minutes before apparently realizing the intern was not the person they were looking for and released him.Advocates were outside of the courthouse during the incident asking for virtual court hearings. “This egregious incident underscores both the community’s and the Judiciary’s concerns about how ICE is conducting its operations in Rhode Island,” said Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell. “Given this climate, the Judiciary understands the call to implement remote hearings in Providence County, and beyond."Gov. Dan McKee sent the following statement: “Today, ICE agents wrongfully detained a high school intern outside the Superior Court—an outrageous and indefensible act that could have completely upended a young person’s life. Rhode Islanders should not have to fear federal agents operating with such reckless disregard for the law and human dignity. This was not a harmless mistake. It was the direct result of callous and chaotic policies by the Trump Administration. Moreover, ICE’s failure to exercise even a shred of due diligence is shameful and underscores just how broken and dangerous these federal policies are. I fully support the Judiciary’s commitment to enhance access to virtual hearings and promote safe access to the courts."NBC 10 News has reached out ICE for a response but has not heard back.