By VINAYA SAKSENA

PROVIDENCE — Two-thirds of Gov. Don Carcieri’s  12-member Hispanic Advisory Commission formally announced their resignation Friday at a press conference in the governor’s State Room, with some former members sharply criticizing Carcieri’s treatment of both the council and the state’s immigrant population.

For several days this week, there had been rumors that most, if not all, of the commissioners would announce their resignation soon. Panelists were upset over their working relationship with the governor, and over an executive order issued by Carcieri that targets illegal immigrants.
Eight commissioners resigned: Jaime Aguayo, Jorge F. Cardenas, Rebecca Flores-Amado, Juan Garcia, Mario Mancebo, Elida Picard, Magdalena Picot, Bruno J. Sukys and Vice Chairwoman Jennie Rosario.
According to a statement issued by Carcieri’s office, the commission was formed in 1991 to address the needs of a rapidly growing Hispanic community. In recent weeks, the resigning commissioners say, they have been increasingly dissatisfied with their treatment by Carcieri. In particular, they have been troubled by the executive order that they contend has created an atmosphere of fear among immigrants.
“This is sending the wrong message to the rest of the nation,” Rosario said. “There was a high level of trust” between the commission members and the governor before the order, he said.
An executive order Carcieri signed in March requires state police and prison officials to identify illegal immigrants for possible deportation. It also requires the executive branch to use a federal database to verify the immigration status of new hires.
Former commissioner Juan Garcia called the order “social genocide.” He said it will increase racial profiling of Hispanics by police and discourage illegal immigrants from contacting authorities in an emergency.
“It is clear the governor is trying to use our community as a scapegoat in an effort to hide the incompetence of his administration,” Garcia said through an interpreter. “The governor is putting our community in great danger. One unintended consequence of the governor’s executive order is that 2,000 school children have stopped attending schools in the Providence area.”
Rosario estimated the number as closer to 3,000.
When contacted after the press conference, Carcieri’s office sent a statement addressing  the resignations and ignoring the allegations that followed..
“First and foremost, the governor appreciates the service of the individuals to the commission, their commitment to the promotion of the Hispanic and Latino community and to the state of Rhode Island,” the statement said. “The Hispanic community is an important part of the fabric of the Rhode Island community and they will continue to have a voice in the Carcieri Administration. The governor thanks Rev. (Eliseo) Nogueras, chairman of the commission, Dr. Antonio Barajas, Rebecca Flores and Ray Guzman for continuing to serve on the commission and providing a voice for their communities.”
Prior to Garcia’s comments, Rosario said the resigning commissioners were “not here to attack the governor personally” or to go after the commissioners who didn’t quit. Later, Sukys expressed a desire to turn the discussion in a more positive direction.
“I think what we really need to do is to find solutions,” he said. “We need legislation on a federal level. Washington can (help) if they want to.”