Illegal immigrants feel the heat
Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri says the federal government has dropped the ball on immigration reform. He recently signed an executive order targeting illegal immigrants in his state.
“This is not about taking a hard line against immigrants,” said Carcieri. “It’s about making sure that those who come here can realize their goals of economic security and a better quality of life.” Harking to his own immigrant roots, the governor said he supports people who follow legal channels to realize the American Dream.
“The motive is to get control of an issue that has to be dealt with,” he said. “If you’re here illegally, you shouldn’t be here.”
According to the Pew Hispanic Center, an estimated 40,000 illegal immigrants reside in Rhode Island.
“Unfortunately, over the last few decades, the federal government has consistently ignored the complex issue of illegal immigration,” said Carcieri. “As a result, the flow of illegal immigrants has become epidemic, with the consequential costs being borne by state taxpayers.”
Public anger against illegal immigrants is already entrenched in parts of Northern Virginia and is also seeping into Maryland as legislators face unprecedented demands to launch a crackdown in the state that has been more tolerant of them. At least 20 bills focused on illegal immigration have been introduced in the state legislature this session.
A recent Washington Post poll found that about half of Maryland residents considered illegal immigration a problem. Eighty-five percent of those surveyed said they wanted local government to actively deal with the issue.
Many undocumented immigrants are worried about local laws allowing police to question them about their legal status.
“Now I am too scared to go back and return my license plates,” said Raul Romano, 40, who said he and his family had recently fled Prince William County, where they lived for eight years. “”I left my job, my apartment, my daughters left their school. Now, here we are in Maryland, starting over again.”
