50 Park Lane
Providence RI 02907-3145

Phone: 401-222-3636

Fax: 401-222-3407

© 2026 Ocean State Media is a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Federal Tax ID: 22-2859005
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cranston Republicans Scrap Over Tuition for Immigrants

The front of a mailer sent by the Hopkins' campaign.
The front of a mailer sent by the Hopkins' campaign.

A mail sent by Mayor Ken Hopkins’ campaign draws sharp response from Barbara Fenton-Fung

College tuition for undocumented immigrants has become an issue in the Cranston mayoral Republican primary between incumbent Mayor Ken Hopkins and challenger state Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung.

A mailer sent by Hopkins’ campaign this week reads in part: “Should illegal immigrants get free college tuition? Barbara Fenton-Fung says yes.”

The mailer shows a large number of dark-skinned people crossing a waterway on foot.

Another description from the mailer: “$0 What illegal immigrants can pay for college because of Barbara Fenton Fung.”

Fenton-Fung called the mailer “maliciously false” and scheduled a news conference to respond. In a statement, she said, “The Hopkins operation is the poster child of a desperate campaign in a complete death spiral.”

Cranston voters will decide between Fenton-Fung and Hopkins, a one-time ally of Fenton-Fung’s husband, former Mayor Allan Fung, on Sept. 10.

On Aug. 26, the two candidates will take part in a 6 p.m. debate being staged at the Cranston Public Library by the Cranston Herald.

This story was reported by The Public's Radio. You can read the entire story here.

Ian Donnis has reported on Rhode Island politics since 1999, when he arrived in the state two weeks before the FBI raided City Hall and Buddy Cianci’s East Side home. Subscribe to his weekly political newsletter here.
Latest Stories