Jan 7 2010

Chafee Rescinds Federal Requirement that Rhode Island Collaborate with Federal Officials on Immigration Enforcement

Earlier this week, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee rescinded the federal law that requires state police to collaborate with federal officials in immigration enforcement. The executive order, released in 2008, was the cause of much debate, with many questioning the federal requirement that state agencies and vendors that do business with a state use the E-Verify system to check the employment eligibility of new hires. Controversy also surrounded the requirement that state police collaborate with federal officials by giving state troopers access to an electronic immigration database to check if detainees are in the U.S. illegally.

In his public announcement, Chafee, who was sworn in earlier this week, stated his belief that immigration enforcement should be dealt with at a federal level and not at the state level. "My view is that Rhode Island can grow economically by being a tolerant place to do business," said Chafee. "The immigrant-rich areas, I want to see them prosper, and they need it."