"MUST READ" THE FACTS AND SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR.
THE PEW HISPANIC CENTER LISTS THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN R.I. AT 35,000 IN 2004. THE INCREASE EACH YEAR HAS BEEN OVER 20%. THE NUMBER TODAY IS ABOUT 82,000. R.I. KIDS COUNT REPORTS THAT SCHOOLS IN CORE CITIES HAVE ENGLISH SECOND LANGUAGE STUDENTS ARE PROVIDENCE,17% AND CENTRAL FALLS AT 26%. STATE HAS ABOUT 9,000 ELS STUDENTS. ELS STUDENTS AND IN MOST CASES LISTED AS SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND COST TAX PAYERS ABOUT $25,000 PER STUDENT. WHEN YOU INCLUDE HEALTH CARE AND OTHER EXPENSES THE COST EACH YEAR TO R.I. CITIZENS MORE THAT EQUALS THE $384 MILLION DEFIICIT. "REMEMBER THAT IS THE COST PER YEAR". THE GOVERNOR IS ADDRESSING THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE ISSUE IN ELIMINATING THE DEFICIT. I WILL SINGLE OUT THE COST OF JUST ONE BUDGETED EXPENSE. AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR NEEDY CITIZENS. THE $31 MILLION WILL BE SAVED BY DEPORTING ILLEGAL ALIENS. WHY? YOU WILL NOW HAVE A SURPLUS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE OFFCIALS AND DEMAND THEY SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR AND THE BILLS THAT RETURN OUR STATE TO ASSISTING OUR CITIZENS WITHOUT BUDGET CUTS.

The law is the law; it is a no-brainer. Everyone who is responsible to oversee the law should be on top of this issue. It is nothing personal toward these individuals; it is just the law that should be enforced.

Thank you Governor Carcieri and hats off to the RI State Legislators for finally addressing this issue. It's about time that our leaders stand-up to those trying to steal our country from us. The illegals are emboldened by the A.C.L.U., La Raza, Southern Poverty Law Center, and other groups who defy our laws. Our leaders should also stop funding the A.C.L.U. who uses the funding to launch civil law suits against Americans. As a money-saving suggestion, please use all property owned by illegals to subsidize their deportation costs (ie, auction cars, homes, etc.).

WOW SAL - Where should I start in addressing your ignorant and illogical rant? First, you presuppose that all ESL children are illegal immigrants. ESL children can be legal as well and trying to learn a new language after their parents legally immigrated here. Also, ESL children can be legal, and have illegal parents, if born in the U.S. Second, in case you didn't know, schools are funded through property taxes with little to no state funding. The state deficit problem has NOTHING to do with school costs. Third, illegal immigrants are in affordable housing? Do you know how long the waiting list for citizens? The waiting list is often years for affordable housing and the demand has long outpaced the supply. Typically, immigrants are crowded into rented apartments or houses to save the most amount of money to send home. Moreover, there has been a global economic restructuring leading to immigrants coming to the U.S. illegally. Manufacturing jobs have been supplanted by low-paying service jobs. Businesses continually benefit by underpaying (and not paying unemployment insurance and workers' comp.) and overworking an exploited people. Obviously, people would not migrate here and risk their lives if the rewards weren't great. Try reading a book on the history of immigration. White legal immigration used to consist of showing up to Ellis island without a disease, while other groups were completely excluded or subject to much stricter guidelines.

It is about time the Governor started listening to the people that elected him. Enforce our exsisting laws!!

Making sure illegals that are committing crimes get their deportation hearings fast tracked, is a step in the right direction!

This is a great way to save the state money in the long term not to mention send a warning to other illegals that if they want to stay here and eventually earn a path to citizenship, they better respect our laws.

Illegal immigrants are stealing our country? More like greasing the wheels so the economic machine can roll on. Businesses and political leaders are stealing our country by exporting manufacturing, IT, accounting, and finance jobs and importing service jobs such as restaurant workers and hotel maids. Even if we deport every illegal immigrant from RI, it still will not solve our budgetary issues. The job growth for RI has been confined to the service sector. Service jobs are less likely to come with benefits and are low-paying. There still will be a need for subsidized health care and affordable housing because of the lack of meaningful job opportunities. This immigration debate is a red herring distracting the masses from economic disparities.