The Rhode Island Department of Corrections refused to detain Ramon Delossantos for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and simply released him. Its flimsy rationale shows how little former Gov. Lincoln Chafee, Gov. Gina Raimondo and the Department of Corrections care about public safety and how much they care about political expedience.

Delossantos, since arrested and charged with distributing drugs, overstayed his visa and was illegally in the country. The DOC’s irresponsible reliance on the Ana Morales case is a fraud perpetuated on the citizens of Rhode Island, and it allowed the alleged Delossantos drug operation to ruin many innocent lives. Heads need to roll at the DOC.

Equally irrational were the sound bites from the American Civil Liberties Union that the DOC’s policy was about local authorities not having to make immigration arrests. Merely asking local authorities to hold a suspected illegal immigrant already jailed on other charges for an extra day or two is not burdensome. The federal courts alone decide if a detainer request is legal or not. States have no right making up rules on immigration; only Congress does.

John Taylor

Centerdale