Governor announces that West Virginia will join the program that delegates some immigration applications to the United States – Western Virginia Metronews

Governor Patrick Morrisi has made the more steps on the role of Western Virginia in the immigration inspection, preparing to join a federal program to accelerate deportations.

“The federal government just can’t do it alone, and West Virginia is ready to help in any way we can,” Morrisi said.

Morrisi, in a briefing with reporters in West Virginia, emphasized the importance of dealing with illegal immigration associated with the effects of fentanyl on West Virginia.

Last week, Morrisis described the state’s efforts to identify 72 identified illegal immigrants, currently 62 in West Virginia. Ten, he said, they were transferred out of state, Kentucky. The governor acknowledged that this number would shift as the situation changes over time.

Today, the governor continued his direction for state law enforcement authorities to cooperate with federal immigration efforts.

Morrisi said West Virginia would move to participate in the Federal Program 287 (G), which delegates the functions of applying the immigration of state corrective staff.

“One question that always comes to me is that if we have all these illegal immigrants and they are arrested and sat in prison, why we just can’t deport them? “Said Morrisi.

The governor said it was a good question. Usually, he said, a federal agent of US immigration and customs application should be present at the adjustment facility in order to initiative to transfer prisoners. Then it allows deportation.

“We are trying to go in another direction,” Morrisi said. “We want to use a more efficient program.”

Morrisi said that program 287 (g) would allow the delegation to hold corrective staff the ability to perform specific functions for the implementation of immigration.

“This will allow a state corrective employee, if necessary, to transport criminal aliens to the federal detention unattended by an ice agent,” he said.

He continued: “Western Virginia has never applied for this program before.”