In a poll of 500 likely Rhode Island voters, nearly three-quarters say that illegal immigration negatively affects the state. They also overwhelmingly (72 percent) opposed an executive order signed by Gov. Lincoln Chafee that prevents police from participating in the federal Secure Communities program when they arrest or detain an individual they suspect is an illegal immigrant. Likewise, the poll showed that 71 percent Rhode Island voters oppose giving in-state tuition subsidies and/or admission of illegal immigrants to public universities and 73 percent oppose allowing illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. There are believed to be roughly 35,000 illegal immigrants in Rhode Island with 24,990 of them in the workforce. There are 59,200 Rhode Islanders currently unemployed. In addition to costing U.S. Citizens jobs, illegal immigrants are costing the state an estimated $278.2 million while only contributing a high-ball estimate of $11.9 million in tax revenue.
