The Ocean State Republican

From the Office of the Governor:

2:00 P.M. Thursday March 27, 2008 State Room, State House

At a State House press conference [on Thursday], Governor Donald L. Carcieri will sign a new Executive Order designed to increase the state’s efforts to deal with the problem of illegal immigration in Rhode Island. The Governor will also endorse legislation that has been introduced in the General Assembly to accomplish the same goal.

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, approximately 20,000 to 40,000 illegal immigrants live in Rhode Island. Illegal immigrants are entitled by law to access a number of taxpayer funded services, including public education and uncompensated hospital care. In the face of growing numbers of illegal immigrants and the inaction of the Federal government, many states are doing what they can to address the issue.