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Fung Refuses Comment on Trump Administration’s Family Separation Policy

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

GoLocalProv News Team

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung refused comment on the growing issue.

Rhode Island GOP gubernatorial candidate Allan Fung’s campaign refused comment on the practice by the Trump Administration of separating children from their family at the border, which has reportedly now seen 2,000 children removed from their parents in six weeks.

Other Rhode Island Republican gubernatorial — and U.S. Senate — candidates, however, weighed in on the issue — and are opposed to the practice of separating families (see below).

On Sunday, the New York Times reported:

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Melania Trump weighed in, saying she “hates to see children separated from their families and hopes both sides of the aisle can finally come together.” Mrs. Trump “believes we need to be a country that follows all laws, but also a country that governs with a heart,” the first lady’s office said in a statement.

RI GOP Candidates -- and Trillo Oppose -- Policy

Republican gubernatorial candidates Patricia Morgan as well as GOP U.S. Senate candidates Bob Flanders and Bobby Nardolillo weighed in on the issue.

“As a mother and a grandmother I can only imagine how heart wrenching it must be to be separated from your child, so no I do not support this policy that separates parents and their young children,” said Morgan. “However, we must be a country of laws, and those laws must be followed. Only Congress can make immigration law. Rhode Island has two US Congressmen and two US Senators, who have it within their power to solve this issue. It’s time for them to do their job, instead of just inflaming this issue for votes. I call upon our federally elected officials to work with the President to solve this problem now, strengthen our borders and fix our broken immigration system.”

“I strongly support the need for our borders to be secured, and the enforcement of immigration law; but separating children from their families, and emotionally damaging them while doing that, I can't support,” said Nardolillo. “We must come to the table, Ds and Rs and re-address this policy.”

Flanders, a former Rhode Island Supreme Court justice, released the following.

The policy "should end" -- says Trillo.

“We live in age of heightened security. Thus, we need to secure our borders, just as we need to secure our schools, our ports, our transportation networks, our critical energy infrastructure, and our elections, among countless other venues,” said Flanders. “But we can achieve enhanced border security without separating non-citizen families that present themselves to immigration authorities after crossing the border and then attempt to seek asylum.”

“We are a nation of immigrants who built this country into a beacon of hope for the world. Although America is a compassionate country, we are also a country of laws and due process,” said Flanders.

Former Trump campaign co-chair and now independent candidate for Governor Joe Trillo said that the policy “should end.”

“The policy should end as soon as the Democrats come to the table and stop playing politics with the lives of these illegal immigrants. David Cicilline recently visited the U.S. border and discovered that the United States is using a chain-link fence to hold people (illegal immigrants), which is the same chain-link fence instituted and used by the Obama Administration to contain individuals. He wasn't upset about it when Obama was president, but now he's up in arms,” said Trillo.

Related Slideshow: GoLocal Statewide Poll - Conducted by Harvard’s Della Volpe - June, 2018

Registered Voters

Q1: Are you registered to vote in Rhode Island?

Total 501 100%
Yes: 501 100%
No: 0 0%
Don't know: 0 0%

Gender

Q2: Are you ...
Total
Total: 100%
Male: 44%
Female: 56%

Age

Q3: In which age group are you?

18-24: 7%
25-34: 16%
35-44: 15%
45-54: 20%
55-64: 17%
65+ 25%

Political Party

Q4: When it comes to voting, do you consider yourself to be affiliated with the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, Moderate, or Unaffiliated with a major party?

Democrat: 38%
Republican:14%
Moderate: 6%
Unaffiliated: 39%
Don't know/Refused: 3%

Likely Voters

Q5: Next year, in November of 2018, there will be a statewide general election for Governor and many other state offices. How likely is it that you will vote in this election? Will you definitely be voting, will you probably be voting, are you 50-50...

Definitely be voting.............................. 81%

Probably be voting............................... 19%

All others............................................. 0%

Top Issue

Q6: What would you say is the number one problem facing Rhode Island that you would like the Governor to address?

Taxes.................................................. .18%

Jobs and economy.............................. 16%

State budget.........................................11%

Roads...................................................10%

Education............................................ 8%

Healthcare........................................... 5%

Corruption/Public integrity.................... 4%

Immigration.......................................... 4%

Housing.............................................. ..2%

Governor............................................. ..2%

Homelessness.......................................1%

Other.. ............................................... 14%

Don’t know.......................................... 6%

Direction

Q7: In general, would you say things in Rhode Island are headed in the right direction or are they off on the wrong track?

Right track........................................... 19%

Wrong track......................................... 36%

Mixed.................................................. 45%

Optimism

Q8: Thinking ahead several years, is your outlook about Rhode Island more optimistic or more pessimistic?

Optimistic............................................ 52%

Pessimistic...........................................48%

Finances

Q9: Over the last three years or so, has your family's financial situation improved, gotten worse, or not changed at all?

Changed for the better......................... 24%

Changed for the worse......................... 33%

Not changed at all................................ 43%

Governor

Q10: Which of the following comes closest to your view regarding each of the following potential candidates for governor of Rhode Island?

Gina Raimondo, a Democrat

I am sure to vote for her: 9%

There is a good chance I will vote for her: 19%

It is possible that I vote for her: 24%

It is unlikely that I will vote for her: 18%

I will never vote for her: 31%

Governor

Q11: Which of the following comes closest to your view regarding each of the following potential candidates for governor of Rhode Island?

Matt Brown, a Democrat

I am sure to vote for him: 4%

There is a good chance I will vote for him: 8%

It is possible that I vote for him: 40%

It is unlikely that I will vote for him: 30%

I will never vote for him: 17%

Governor

Q12: Which of the following comes closest to your view regarding each of the following potential candidates for governor of Rhode Island?

Spencer Dickinson, a Democrat

I am sure to vote for him: 3%

There is a good chance I will vote for him: 7%

It is possible that I vote for him: 37%

It is unlikely that I will vote for him: 35%

I will never vote for him: 18%

Governor

Q13: Which of the following comes closest to your view regarding each of the following potential candidates for governor of Rhode Island?

Paul Roselli, a Democrat

I am sure to vote for him: 2%

There is a good chance I will vote for him: 7%

It is possible that I vote for him: 35%

It is unlikely that I will vote for him: 37%

I will never vote for him: 19%

Governor

Q14: Which of the following comes closest to your view regarding each of the following potential candidates for governor of Rhode Island?

Allan Fung, a Republican

I am sure to vote for him: 7%

There is a good chance I will vote for him: 18%

It is possible that I vote for him: 28%

It is unlikely that I will vote for him: 25%

I will never vote for him: 21%

Governor

Q15: Which of the following comes closest to your view regarding each of the following potential candidates for governor of Rhode Island?

Patricia Morgan, a Republican

I am sure to vote for her: 3%

There is a good chance I will vote for her.: 9%

It is possible that I vote for her: 32%

It is unlikely that I will vote for her: 35%

I will never vote for her: 21%

Governor

Q16: Which of the following comes closest to your view regarding each of the following potential candidates for governor of Rhode Island?

Giovanni Feroce, a Republican

I am sure to vote for him: 2%

There is a good chance I will vote for him: 5%

It is possible that I vote for him: 24%

It is unlikely that I will vote for him: 35%

I will never vote for him: 34%

Governor

Q17: Which of the following comes closest to your view regarding each of the following potential candidates for governor of Rhode Island?

Luis-Daniel Muñoz, an Independent

I am sure to vote for him: 3%

There is a good chance I will vote for him: 6%

It is possible that I vote for him: 33%

It is unlikely that I will vote for him: 38%

I will never vote for him: 21%

Governor

Q18: Which of the following comes closest to your view regarding each of the following potential candidates for governor of Rhode Island?

Joe Trillo, an Independent

I am sure to vote for him: 1%

There is a good chance I will vote for him: 8%

It is possible that I vote for him: 37%

It is unlikely that I will vote for him: 34%

I will never vote for him: 19%

Governor

Q20: If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were: Democrat Gina Raimondo, Republican Allan Fung and Independent Joe Trillo - for whom would you vote?

Allan Fung, a Republican..................... 33%

Gina Raimondo, a Democrat................ 33%

Joe Trillo, and Independent.................. 16%

Don't know 18%

Governor

Q20: If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were: Democrat Gina Raimondo, Republican Patricia Morgan and Independent Joe Trillo - for whom would you vote?

Gina Raimondo, a Democrat................ 39%

Patricia Morgan, a Republican............. 20%

Joe Trillo, an Independent................... 19%

Don't know ......................................... 22%

Governor

Q21: If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were: Democrat Matt Brown, Republican Allan Fung and Independent Joe Trillo - for whom would you vote?

Allan Fung, a Republican..................... 35%

Matt Brown, a Democrat...................... 25%

Joe Trillo, an Independent.................... 14%

Don't know .......................................... 27%

Governor

Q22: If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were: Democrat Matt Brown, Republican Patricia Morgan and Independent Joe Trillo - for whom would you vote?

Matt Brown, a Democrat...................... 30%

Patricia Morgan, a Republican............. 20%

Joe Trillo, an Independent.................... 18%

Don't know .......................................... 33%

U.S. Senate

Q23: If the election for the U.S. Senate were held today and the candidates were: [ROTATE] Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse and Republican Robert Nardolillo - for whom would you vote?

Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat........... 53%

Robert 'Bobby' Nardolillo, a Republican.. 31%

Don't know............................................... 16%

U.S. Senate

Q24: If the election for the U.S. Senate were held today and the candidates were: [ROTATE] Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse and Republican Robert Flanders - for whom would you vote?

Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat........ 54%

Robert Flanders, a Republican............. 32%

Don't know.......................................... 14%

Schools

Q25: If there was an election today, would you vote to approve or reject issuing $250 million in financing supported general obligation bonds to repair Rhode Island's deteriorating school buildings and bring them up to minimum standards called "warm, safe and dry"?

Net: Approve...................................... 74%

Definitely approve............................... 36%

Probably approve................................ 38%

Net: Reject......................................... 17%

Probably reject.................................... 9%

Definitely reject.................................... 7%

Don't know.......................................... 9%

PawSox

Q26: The Rhode Island General Assembly is in the process of negotiating a $40 million public financing deal with the Pawtucket Red Sox for a new stadium, hoping to bring a vote before the House and Senate this summer.

In general, do you favor or oppose the use of public funds to help finance a new stadium for the Pawtucket Red Sox?

Net: Favor.......................................... 33%

Strongly favor...................................... 13%

Somewhat favor.................................. 21%

Net: Oppose....................................... 59%

Somewhat oppose.............................. 21%

Strongly oppose.................................. 38%

Don't know.......................................... 8%

Fane Tower

Q27: The City of Providence and the state of Rhode Island are considering a proposal by New York developer Jason Fane to build a 46-story luxury residence tower in Providence, next to a public riverfront park. The developer will invest $250 to $300 million of his own funds. The project is called the Hope Point Tower, it would be 170-feet taller than the Superman building and would require waiving height restrictions and the use of state tax credits.

In general, do you favor or oppose development of the Hope Point Tower?

Net: Favor.......................................... 39%

Strongly favor...................................... 13%

Somewhat favor.................................. 27%

Net: Oppose....................................... 50%

Somewhat oppose.............................. 23%

Strongly oppose.................................. 27%

Don't know.......................................... 11%

Elorza/Traffic Cameras

Q28: How would you rate the job that Mayor Jorge Elorza has done managing issues related to speed cameras in Providence?

Net: Excellent/Good.......................... 26%

Excellent............................................. 6%

Good................................................... 20%

Net: Fair/Poor.................................... 74%

Fair...................................................... 29%

Poor.................................................... 45%

Q29: Since it was launched in 2016, UHIP -- the Rhode Island program designed to improve customer service for those who receive federal benefits -- has run into significant problems, including long lines, cost overruns, lost applications, over- and under-charging of patients and families.

Based on what you know at this time, what percent of blame for this do you assign to:

Deloitte, the consulting company who
produced the system........................... 53.3%

Governor Gina Raimondo, who has
been governor since the system
launch in September 2016................... 47.1%

NIMBYism

Q30: Presently, there are local groups opposing the development of a natural gas facility in Burrillville, solar projects in Exeter, a LNG facility in Providence and wind projects in North Kingstown.
Some people say that it is important for local groups to play a role in opposition of projects like these that could be dangerous or harmful to citizens;

Others say that local groups have gone too far to the detriment of the state’s long-term energy needs.

Which statement comes closer to your own view?

Local groups play an important role...... 46%

Local groups have gone too far............. 31%

Not sure................................................. 24%

Corruption

Q31: Compared to other states, do you think there is:

More political corruption in RI................. 63%

Less political corruption in RI................ 7%

About the same level as other states..... 30%

Income

Q32: The next question is about the total income of YOUR HOUSEHOLD for the PAST 12 MONTHS. Please include your income PLUS the income of all members living in your household (including cohabiting partners and armed forces members living at home).

$50,000 or less.................................... 33%

More $50,000 but less than $75,000..... 18%

More $75,000 but less than $100,000... 16%

More $100,000 but less than $150,000. 13%

$150,000 or more................................ 10%

Don't know/refused.............................. 10%

Ethnicity

Q33: What particular ethnic group or nationality - such as English, French, Italian, Irish, Latino, Jewish, African American, and so forth - do you consider yourself a part of or feel closest to?

Net: White, Non-Hispanic..................... 82%

Black or African American.................... 6%

Latino/Hispanic.................................... 5%

Other.................................................... 7%

Geography

Q34: City/Town Into Region.

West Bay............................................ 28%

Metro-Providence................................ 28%

Blackstone Valley................................ 21%

South County...................................... 10%

East Bay............................................. 13%

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