By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

Republican candidate for governor Allan Fung said Friday that if elected, he would turn over undocumented felons for deportation, and would deny drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Standing outside a federal immigration office in Johnston, Fung cited the case of a recently arrested criminal suspect who was deported in 1998, saying Cranston police cooperated with federal authorities and ensured that Helpis Delacruz was turned over to federal immigration authorities soon after he was charged in district court.

“We need to get tough on criminals here illegally,” Fung said. “That should be our priority and something we can do in the state and municipal levels to keep our families safe.”

Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo’s Senior Campaign Advisor Mike Raia countered with a statement that read in part:

“Rhode Island requires both a judicial warrant and an ICE detainer to hold someone for federal immigration enforcement. Mayor Fung appears to be promising local law enforcement will hold individuals without warrants and put law enforcement at risk of violating the 4th and 5th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.”

Fung said he would act to ensure that Rhode Island does not become what he called a “sanctuary state’. He said that, if elected governor, he would deny drivers’ licenses to undocumented immigrants.