PROVIDENCE — The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Hispanic Affairs yesterday faulted Governor Carcieri for not consulting commissioners before issuing a controversial executive order last month that cracks down on illegal immigration. They asked Carcieri to table the order until further discussion with them.

Carcieri’s edict, issued March 27, in part orders state police and the corrections department to assist the federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in enforcing federal immigration laws and requires use of a federal program to electronically verify that all executive branch employees have legal status to work in this country.

At a State House news conference, commissioners said they met with Carcieri last week for two hours and hope to have more meetings with the governor. If not, commissioners may resign, said vice chair Jenny Rosario.

“That’s one of the alternatives that we have tabled,” said Rosario, a longtime community advocate who helped organize voters during Carcieri’s first campaign and supported him in his second campaign. Rosario said that because of the commission’s collective expertise and professional background, if the governor does not continue seeking its advice, “we are seriously thinking about that possibility.”

“Regretfully, we have to say for this executive order we were not consulted,” said Rosario. “It is not a matter of pride; it’s a matter of information” in particular about “establishing an executive order based on unreliable data.”

But Rosario said commissioners are hoping that yesterday’s news conference, held in the governor’s reception room, “will help the governor understand better our intentions of working with him and continue to serve the State of Rhode Island to improve the quality of life of everyone in the state.”

The governor was invited but said a scheduling conflict prevented him from attending, according to a letter he sent to commissioners.

In that letter, Carcieri said he looks forward “to working with the commission in an attempt to clarify the executive order and resolve outstanding issues.” He wrote that he is “keenly aware of the fears and concerns that have surfaced since the executive order was signed” and noted that his staff is working on an implementation plan “that will specifically outline exactly what steps will be taken so that we can mitigate unwarranted fears.”

During the meeting last week, Rosario said, the governor explained that he had not consulted commissioners before issuing the order because he did not want to spread “misinformation” ahead of time. She said Carcieri also told commissioners that the order is not intended “to create fear or to be hunting illegals in the state of Rhode Island.”

Nonetheless, they raised concerns that have been cited repeatedly by community leaders, advocacy groups, clergy and others since Carcieri issued his order that it will lead to racial profiling and widespread discrimination against all immigrants.

The Rev. Eliseo Nogueras, commission chairman, said, “This is not a legal or illegal undocumented-only problem. Our community has come forward to express their concerns and how this is going to exacerbate our already [existing] racial profiling in Rhode Island and how it is going to affect our citizens, children born in the state.”

Nogueras said, “We again call for comprehensive immigration reform to be lobbied and enacted at the correct level — the federal government.”

Jaime Aguayo, past president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, criticized the data Carcieri used to implement public policy.

“They were estimates. It was not based in fact. There was no research done to verify this data,” said Aguayo.

He added, “None of the members of the commission here are denying we have to do something with illegal aliens. There is no question — we are not here supporting that illegal aliens are being given a free ticket anywhere. What we want to do is put forward with the governor some kind of a program — to use us as commissioners so we can actually develop data we need. Once we have that data, we can analyze it and do something about it.”

kziner@projo.com