PROVIDENCE — Governor Carcieri has named 27 people to an advisory panel that will monitor implementation of the executive order on illegal immigration that he issued in March. The panel includes representatives of religious groups, community agencies, government, law enforcement and business.

A chief component of the order seeks to deputize state troopers and some Corrections Department staff with immigration law enforcement powers. Another directive, begun last month, requires use of an E-Verify database to screen new employees in the executive branch and workers for state vendors to ensure they are legally authorized to work in this country.

Carcieri pledged to form the advisory panel “to monitor any unintended consequences” after his executive order touched off a firestorm.

While many praised him for taking action in the absence of federal immigration reform, community advocates and clergy raised concerns about potential racial profiling, particularly targeted at Hispanics.

Carcieri yesterday reiterated his “strong support for legal immigration and for the contributions made by Rhode Island’s legal immigrant population.”

Carcieri said he believes the panel will work to ensure that the executive order “only affects those who are in Rhode Island illegally, as was always intended.” Carcieri’s spokesman, Jeff Neal, said the panel will determine its meeting schedule.

Terry Gorman, head of Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement and vocal opponent of illegal immigration, yesterday said he was disappointed to learn he was not on the list.

Gorman said he believed he’d been recommended for the panel “by a policy person at the State House” and was asked in turn to recommend potential business representatives.

“I think it’s an apparently one-sided panel,” said Gorman. “That panel to me looks like the ‘illegal alien advocacy commission.’ ”Advisory panel members:

Religious community: Bishop Thomas Tobin, Diocese of Providence; Rabbi Alan Flam, Rhode Island Board of Rabbis; the Rev. Donald Anderson, Rhode Island State Council of Churches; the Rev. Eliseo Nogueras, Hispanic Ministerial Alliance; the Rev. Jeff Williams, Cathedral of Life Christian Assembly; the Rev. William L. Shaw, Ministers Alliance of Rhode Island; the Rev. James T. Ruggieri, St. Patrick Church, Providence.

Community agencies: Adeola Oredola, Youth in Action; Pheamo Witcher, Genesis Center; Toby Ayers, Rhode Island for Community & Justice; Bruno Sukys, International Institute-Feinstein Center; Merrill R. Thomas, Providence Community Health Centers.

Government: Patricia Martinez, state Department of Children, Youth and Families; Vanessa Cooley, state Department of Education; Carrie Bridges, state Department of Health; Elvys Ruiz, state Department of Human Services; Yvon Chance, Governor’s Office of Community Relations; retired Rear Adm. Joseph Strausser, advisory panel chair; Deborah A. Smith, Governor’s Office of External Affairs, panel vice chair.

Law Enforcement: Maj. Stephen O’Donnell and Cpl. Wilfred K. Hill, Rhode Island State Police; Col. Stephen McCartney, Rhode Island Association of Police Chiefs; Magdalena Picot, state Department of Corrections, community confinement.

Business: John Gregory, Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce; Keith Stokes, Newport County Chamber of Commerce; Elissa O’Brien, Human Resources Management Association of Rhode Island; John Gregory, Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce.

kziner@projo.com