3rd meeting set to discuss immigration order

The Associated Press
Published: October 7, 2008

PROVIDENCE—A church in Newport is reporting a 50 percent drop in attendance. Some illegal immigrant parents are too afraid to apply for food stamps, even though their kids are legal and qualify for the assistance.

And at least one man said he tries not to walk on the street during the day, fearing his Hispanic roots will lead police to question him.

But federal immigration authorities who attended a meeting of Gov. Don Carcieri’s advisory panel on Tuesday said they were “mystified” by the anecdotes, saying they were focused on targeted criminal investigations and not “willy-nilly” roundups of residents or raids of churches and schools.

“We do not do area control,“ said David Riccio, the resident agent in charge of the Providence office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told the panel on Tuesday.

Carcieri created the 27-member panel after he signed a controversial executive order in March aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration.

The order requires state police and prison officials to identify illegal immigrants for potential deportation. Advocates for immigrants say the order has spawned an environment of fear, even for some residents in the country legally, and increasing intolerance in Rhode Island.

The advisory panel - comprised of clergy and community and business leaders - is examining any unintended consequences of the order.

Panelists relayed some of the tales they’ve heard after fanning out to two “listening sessions,“ one among mainly Brazilian immigrants in Newport, and one among mostly Latino immigrants in Providence.

As he left the meeting, Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin, a panel member, said ICE’s raid this year of Rhode Island state courthouses, combined with Carcieri’s executive order, created fear and anxiety.

“That’s what we’re hearing, time and time again,“ he said. Still, he was satisfied with the meeting.

“I believe the good intentions of the ICE agents who were here,“ he said.