Rhode Island Governor's Executive Order Steps Up Illegal Immigration Fight
Friday, March 28, 2008
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island - Linking the presence of undo***ented workers
to
Rhode Island's financial woes, Gov. Don Carcieri signed an executive order
that includes a series of steps to combat illegal immigration.
The order signed Thursday requires state agencies and companies that do
business with the state to verify the legal status of employees. It also
directs the Rhode Island State Police and prison and parole officials to
more aggressively find and de****t illegal immigrants.
The Republican governor said he understands that illegal immigrants face
hard****ps - but he does not want them in Rhode Island, America's smallest
state. "If you're here illegally, you shouldn't be here illegally. You
shouldn't be here," Carcieri said.
Immigrant advocate Juan Garcia feared Carcieri's proposals would drive a
vulnerable community underground. He said illegal immigrants who are
victims
of crime will fear approaching police, and that children could suffer if
parents lose their jobs.
"These people are not criminals," he said. "This is affecting the poor
people."
Carcieri's popularity has plummeted in recent months as Rhode Island faces
an estimated $550 million (euro348.41 million) budget deficit, its worst
financial crisis since a series of bank and credit union collapses in the
early 1990s. He has proposed cutting school funding, reducing welfare and
health care benefits and even letting prisoners out of jail early.
He blamed Congress for failing to set a new immigration policy. He said he
sup****ted increasing the number of legal immigrants and skilled workers
allowed into the country.
Carcieri was testy when taking questions after signing the order. When a
re****ter asked if his order might embolden xenophobes, Carcieri blamed the
media for inflaming the immigration debate.
Under his order, state police will enter an agreement with federal
immigration authorities permitting them access to specialized immigration
databases. That information would allow police to identify and detain
immigration violators.
State police could investigate the legal status of anyone they suspect is
an
immigration violator, including crime victims, witnesses and people
supplying police with confidential tips, state police Maj. Steven
O'Donnell
said.
Department of Corrections Director A.T. Wall said the prison system will
negotiate a similar agreement so it too can identify illegal immigrants in
state custody as well as legal immigrants who are subject to de****tation
if
convicted of crimes.
Carcieri said he sup****ted legislation that would force all companies in
Rhode Island to do the same. He said he did not know how much his
initiatives would cost, although he assumed they would save money in the
long run.
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