R.I. lawmakers enter loud debate over illegal immigration
PROVIDENCE, R.I—State lawmakers entered the fiery argument over illegal immigration on Wednesday, debating 10 bills that would cut illegal immigrants off from state assistance, deny them driver's licenses and make it a felony to rent them a home.
The House Judiciary Committee heard hours of heated testimony on the proposals but did not immediately vote on them. A crowd packed the hearing room, and activists cheered and booed from outside in the halls.
"We have an epidemic on our hands," said Rep. Peter Palumbo, a Democrat who has proposed some of the most stringent measures against illegal immigrants.
But critics warned the bills cracking down on illegal immigration could encourage racial profiling by the police. A judge told lawmakers that one proposal to deny illegal immigrants worker's compensation might encourage unscrupulous companies to hire illegal immigrants because they would face lesser penalties for failing to insure their workers.
"It's inhumane, it's immoral, it's unjust and it's plain wrong," said George Nee, secretary treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. "At the end of the day, all workers are human beings and should be treated with respect and dignity."
The debate over illegal immigration hit a frenzy pitch in Rhode Island last month when Republican Gov. Don Carcieri signed an executive order forcing state police and prison officials to identify illegal immigrants in state custody for possible deportation. It would also require state vendors and agencies under Carcieri's control to verify the legal status of future hires.
Carcieri has endorsed a bill that would require private employers to do the same.
Rhode Island is facing a $550 million budget deficit, and Carcieri has blamed illegal immigrants for financially straining the state's school districts, hospitals and prison system.
His message clearly resonated with some people who testified at the hearing.
"This state's in financial distress," said Harry Staley of Westerly. If the state encourages illegal immigration, it will have to cut state funding for its legal residents, he said.
Democrats opposed to Carcieri's crackdown have hit back, sponsoring bills that would limit or ban police and landlords from inquiring about a person's immigration status.
Democrats hold a veto-proof majority in the General Assembly. Rep. Timothy Williamson, a prominent leader in the House, seemed skeptical about several bills cracking down on illegal immigrants.
He asked whether any of the proposals would actually discourage illegal immigration. He also questioned whether race or ethnicity was a factor in the debate. Earlier this century, he said, most illegal immigrants in Rhode Island were probably white and came from Europe.
"The question today is about whether or not this bill is just targeting Hispanics," Williamson said.
