Judge Resigns After Raid
The FBI made headlines Thursday with a court-authorized raid on the Providence, Rhode Island, law offices of Joseph Molina Flynn—a man who wears two hats as an immigration attorney and a municipal court judge in Central Falls. The reason for the raid remains a mystery, but one thing is clear: the black SUVs and box-hauling agents don’t roll out without a good reason. If this operation is tied to something big, it could ripple far beyond Rhode Island.
FBI officials confirmed the raid but, true to form, declined to share details, leaving the public speculating. Video footage shows agents entering and exiting Molina Flynn’s Dorrance Street office, carrying boxes of what one assumes are potential evidence.
While both the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Rhode Island are keeping their lips sealed, sources told WPRI 12 that this investigation has been in the works for some time—long before President Donald Trump returned to the White House this week. That timeline raises eyebrows. What could’ve been simmering under the radar all this time?
🚨BREAKING: FBI and Homeland Security launch a major federal raid targeting a well-known immigration attorney Joseph Flynn in Providence, Rhode Island.
You F’ed around, now you are finding out.
pic.twitter.com/4O0VrcatTN— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 23, 2025
For those unfamiliar, Molina Flynn’s story is a classic immigrant success tale—at least on paper. Born in Medellin, Colombia, he arrived in the U.S. at nine years old on a tourist visa, lived undocumented for 15 years, and eventually secured lawful permanent residency. He went on to attend Johnson and Wales University and later earned a law degree from the prestigious University of Michigan.
In 2015, he founded a law firm specializing in immigration, family, and criminal law. By 2021, he had been appointed as a municipal court judge in Central Falls. His biography reads like the American Dream, but recent events suggest there’s more to this story.
Molina Flynn resigned from his judgeship on Thursday, mere hours after the raid made the news. Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera announced his resignation, emphasizing her commitment to transparency and accountability. “I was deeply concerned to see the reports of an FBI search,” Rivera told The Providence Journal. “In an effort to uphold the integrity and focus of the municipal court, Judge Molina Flynn has officially resigned his position.” That’s political speak for: “We’re getting as far away from this as possible.”
The optics here are troubling, especially for someone whose career is tied to law and justice. The fact that the FBI targeted his office suggests there’s something serious at play. While the exact focus of the investigation remains under wraps, a raid like this isn’t a casual exercise. Whether it involves his legal practice, his role as a judge, or something else entirely, the implications could be explosive.
It’s worth noting that Molina Flynn has represented some high-profile immigration cases and, as someone who lived undocumented himself, likely has deep ties in those communities. Could this raid connect to his immigration work? Or is it tied to his political connections or financial dealings? The lack of information only fuels speculation.