Thread: RI gov. deepens war of words with Providence mayor

RI gov. deepens war of words with Providence mayor
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July 8, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Gov. Don Carcieri suggested Tuesday that the U.S. Attorney's office should look into whether Providence Mayor David Cicilline is breaking his oath of office by failing to uphold an executive order cracking down on illegal immigration.

Carcieri's comments on WPRO-AM were the latest in a string of criticism since Cicilline declined to follow the governor's order, signed in March, which requires state police and prison officials to identify illegal immigrants for possible deportation. It does not apply to local departments, although Carcieri has asked them to follow it voluntarily.

Carcieri, a Republican, said Tuesday he knew his order didn't apply to local officials, but believed they were sworn to uphold "the laws of the land." When asked how local authorities could be forced to abide by the order, Carcieri said his own staff had looked into it and suggested federal authorities do the same.

"Maybe it's a U.S. Attorney issue, in terms of someone not abiding by or upholding what they were sworn to when they took office. That's an issue that I know our people are looking at. I don't know what they've concluded, but perhaps it's something the U.S. Attorney should have an interest in," he said.

A day earlier, on Fox's "The O'Reilly Factor," when Carcieri and host Bill O'Reilly were discussing his order, O'Reilly asked the governor: "Cicilline. Why don't you have him arrested? Wouldn't that be fun?" Carcieri replied: "Oh, that would be a lot of fun."

Cicilline, a Democrat, responded in a written statement that Carcieri was stoking the issue to score political points.

"Playing politics only diverts us from finding real solutions," he said.

Providence Police Chief Dean Esserman has said local law enforcement should not have to enforce federal immigration laws and doing so could be counterproductive because it could discourage victims and witnesses of crimes from coming forward if they fear they will be deported. Cicilline has supported that position.

Later Tuesday, the governor's spokeswoman, Amy Kempe, pulled back, saying his comments to O'Reilly were tongue-in-cheek. Kempe said his response on WPRO was to a "leading question," and that Carcieri's staff was not looking specifically at the mayor.

"He is not suggesting that the U.S. Attorney's office look into it. That is not what he was referring to," she said. She added later that he was speaking solely about "who has the authority to investigate an elected official in relation to the oath of office to uphold and abide the laws of Rhode Island."

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney said the office would not comment.

Carcieri has taken to talk radio before to criticize Cicilline, who has been raising money for a possible run for governor in 2010. Last month, Carcieri said Providence's lax attitude toward illegal immigrants was partly to blame for the rape of a woman, allegedly by an illegal immigrant who had been arrested in the past by the city's police.
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Carcieri speaks out on TV on illegal immigrants

01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, July 8, 2008

By Tom Mooney

Journal Staff Writer

Governor Carcieri spent several minutes last night on national television during an appearance on The O’Reilly Factor criticizing Providence’s mayor and police chief for not endorsing his attempt to curb illegal immigration.

The governor cited the recent arrest in Providence of Marco Riz, an illegal immigrant arrested several times before he allegedly kidnapped and raped a Warwick woman, as an example of the need for his executive order.

Carcieri’s order requires law enforcement and correctional officers to work closely with immigration officials to identify illegal immigrants.

“Illegal immigration is a huge issue in our state and around the country,â€

I'm sure the citizens of Rhode Island (at least those who are paying attention and are aware) appreciate the proactive measures that Gov. Carcieri has taken and is trying to take.