Immigration

The Not-So-Approachable Governor

By Justin Katz | December 13, 2010 |

An email from Terry Gorman, executive director of Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement, inspired a new category title, on Anchor Rising, when he sent the following email: Just received a call from Anita, a senior staff person on the Chafee transition team and she related to me that without hearing from the source the…

Chafee’s Aimin’ to Give It

By Justin Katz | November 29, 2010 |

What’s the famous H.L. Menken quotation? “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.” I suspect that’s going to be the unofficial slogan of the Linc Chafee years in Rhode Island. It came to mind when the Department of Revenue found that Chafee’s…

“I campaigned on it…I can’t go back on a campaign pledge.”

By Marc Comtois | November 15, 2010 |

So says our governor-elect when talking about his pledge to revoke the E-verify Executive order. Hey, he’s honest, right? I guess that means we can be sure that a 1% sales tax increase is coming. Yippee.

The Goal Is to Silence, Not to Oppose

By Justin Katz | October 8, 2010 |

The opposition went to the immigration law enforcement rally, last Friday, dressed humorously to distract from their underlying intent, which is to prevent the public from hearing or understanding an argument with which they disagree: Suddenly, demonstrators in polyester clown suits filed through security and entered the State House rotunda, carrying signs that said, “Clown…

Inanities But Not Sovereignty: The Wildly Upside Down Priorities of the Administration (and their Accomplices in Congress)

By Monique Chartier | August 10, 2010 |

True to their misguided word in their lawsuit against Arizona that they lacked the resources to enforce our borders, the Obama administration has ordered ICE to cut way back on (Joe B, correct me if this is wrong) non-felony violations of our border. The new guidelines are outlined in a June 29 memo from Assistant…

Clarifying a Point on Immigration

By Marc Comtois | July 29, 2010 |

In my conversation with Matt last night about the Arizona immigration law court decision, I mentioned that I had come across an interesting point: that the Federal lawsuit against Arizona shows that comprehensive immigration reform probably won’t work because the enforcement provisions of any such plan will be litigated (and thus implementation delayed) while the…

Borders, National and Educational

By Justin Katz | July 29, 2010 |

Marc and Matt discussed (independently) immigration and education on last night’s Matt Allen Show. Stream by clicking here, or download it.

Cost of Illegal Immigration to Rhode Islanders

By Monique Chartier | July 12, 2010 |

My main focus with regard to illegal immigration has been its implications to US sovereignty and, with the recent rise in kidnappings and violence along the border, the personal safety of those who reside there. It is not unreasonable, however, to also examine the more pragmatic impact that it has on Rhode Island wallets and…

Really? State Officials Are Not Permitted to Enforce Federal Laws?

By Monique Chartier | July 11, 2010 |

Presumably inspired by the Obama administration’s lawsuit against the State of Arizona, commenter and Engaged Citizen David Potts, via e-mail, presents an interesting scenario. Suppose a RI trooper is patrolling I-95 and he stops a motorist for speeding. As he approaches the offender’s vehicle he sees a set of engraving plates for U.S. $100 bills…

Let’s Be Clear: If You Oppose the Recent Changes to the Arizona Immigration Law, You Oppose United States Immigration Law

By Monique Chartier | July 4, 2010 |

Because, see, the substance of the revisions to the Arizona law make it almost a carbon copy of the federal law. “Almost”; the Arizona law is actually less harsh than the federal law because, unlike with federal law, Arizona officials cannot simply walk up and ask someone for their papers. And, did you know that…