Federal agents from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security raided the Providence, Rhode Island, office of prominent immigration attorney Joseph Molina Flynn on Thursday.
"There is court-authorized activity at that location," said Jim Martin, spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha's office, declining to elaborate further, according to The Providence Journal.
Newsweek reached out to representatives for Martin via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Molina Flynn, who also served as a municipal court judge in Central Falls, resigned from his judicial position shortly after the raid.
The raid comes amid heightened scrutiny of sanctuary cities like Providence, which have drawn federal attention in the ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement. Flynn, a high-profile attorney representing clients in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, has been a key figure in local legal circles, particularly in immigration law.
What To Know
Molina Flynn's office was the target of the raid, according to multiple sources.
The raid quickly became a topic of conversation online, with Brian Crandall, a reporter for Providence news station NBC10, posting, "FBI, Homeland Security agents raid office of well-known Providence immigration lawyer" on X, formerly Twitter, alongside a video of law enforcement in the office building. His post has gained over 400,000 views at the time of publication.
Crandall also posted another video of federal agents taking boxes out of Molina Flynn's office, adding that officials would not reveal the raid's focus.
Who Is Joseph Molina Flynn?
Molina Flynn made history as the first openly gay and formerly undocumented person to serve as a judge in Central Falls.
Originally from Colombia, he arrived in the United States at age 9 on a visitor's visa, which he overstayed, becoming undocumented.
After moving to Central Falls and later settling in Pawtucket, he faced challenges, including a language barrier in school. Despite these obstacles, Molina Flynn excelled academically, graduating summa cum laude with a B.S. in accounting from Johnson & Wales University and earning a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School.
He founded Molina Flynn Law Offices in 2015, specializing in immigration, family, and criminal law, and also works as a "crimmigration" consultant. He is an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University School of Law.
What People Are Saying
RI Courts spokesperson Lexi Kriss told Newsweek: "The Office of Disciplinary Counsel is aware of the raid and that the attorney has not been charged criminally at this point."
Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera on Molina Flynn's resignation: "As the Central Falls community knows, transparency and accountability are priorities of mine. In an effort to uphold the integrity and focus of the Municipal Court, Judge Molina Flynn has officially resigned his position."
What Happens Next
With Flynn's resignation, the Central Falls Municipal Court has temporarily appointed Associate Judge Robert McConnell to preside over cases. Meanwhile, the nature and scope of the federal investigation remain unclear.
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