Immigration law in the United States generally includes the rights and obligations of persons who are not U.S. citizens to temporarily visit or more permanently reside in the U.S.—and for federal and state governments to enforce immigration laws regarding visitors and residents.

Most immigration law consists of federal statutes and regulations—but many state laws impact both legal and illegal immigrants—including employment checks, E-Verify, law enforcement, driver's license requirements, public benefits restrictions, and more.

In Rhode Island, as in all states, immigration law is primarily governed by federal statutes and regulations, as the authority to regulate immigration is a federal power. This includes laws pertaining to visas, green cards, asylum, deportation, and citizenship. However, state laws can also impact immigrants in various ways. Rhode Island requires employers to use the federal E-Verify system to check the work eligibility of new hires, which is a tool to prevent the employment of unauthorized immigrants. Law enforcement in Rhode Island may also cooperate with federal immigration authorities, but the extent of this cooperation can vary. The state allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, which is not the case in all states. Additionally, Rhode Island has certain restrictions on public benefits for non-citizens, although some benefits may be available depending on an individual's immigration status. It's important for immigrants in Rhode Island to understand both federal immigration laws and the specific state statutes that can affect their rights and obligations.