Bottom Of The Barrel

Rhode Island and Immigration

On March 27, 2008, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri issued a six-point executive order he said will enable "a vast array of state government agencies" to address illegal immigration in Rhode Island. Two key points to the Governor's executive order are the use of the federal government’s E-Verify program and the urging of all law enforcement officials to take steps to support the enforcement of federal immigration laws. Yesterday the Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee heard comments on bills that would block illegal immigrants from getting driver’s licenses, housing assistance and punish businesses and state agencies that hire them, effectively taking Governor Carcieri’s recent executive order a step further. The Boston Globe even published an article that Massachusetts illegal immigrants fear driving into Rhode Island in fear of being deported. Although this is a hot button issue, I'm not sure why there is such a backlash toward RI who are simply enforcing our existing laws and trying to find ways to make them work within the biggest littlest state in the union. I'm waiting for Rhode Island to announce a meeting at Dunkin' Donuts Center for anyone who wishes to protest these new laws and/or receive a free bur ticket to a country out than this one.

Labels: Op-Ed

posted by TheWino @ 2:55 PM