West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey has referred to the current imprisonment of 53 people in facilities run by the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (WVDCR) as the detention of “suspected illegal immigrant criminals.”
Federal authorities, including the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), are detaining these people as they attempt to confirm their immigration status.
There is now no indication that any of the detainees are being charged with a crime, and there are also few information available about the purpose of their detention.
Governor Morrisey emphasized his agreement with the federal government’s immigration policies and voiced his strong support for those implemented during the former President Donald Trump administration.
“We will take all appropriate steps to protect our citizens and work with the Trump Administration to crack down on illegal immigration,” Morrisey stated.
He added that in order to support enforcement efforts, his government is actively working with federal authorities.
In an effort to streamline the state’s immigration enforcement procedure, Morrisey instructed several state agencies to work together with federal organizations such as ICE.
West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito has also stated that she supports the state’s continued efforts to support federal immigration enforcement.
“If you come into our country illegally and you commit a crime, you need to go back home. President Trump has been clear about this,” Capito stated. “I’m fully supportive of his efforts to deport illegal criminals back to their home country.”
She reaffirmed the idea that in order to solve what she views as a crucial issue, federal and state authorities should cooperate.
The collaboration between federal and state authorities demonstrates the governor’s dedication to advancing the larger federal immigration control agenda, with a special emphasis on those suspected of being in the country illegally and engaging in criminal behavior.
In Huntington, West Virginia, in particular, a number of immigration enforcement activities have been occurring around the state, including the detentions in issue.
Phil Watkins, the chief of police in Huntington, stated that ICE agents carried out focused enforcement actions throughout the city.
The 1500 block of 6th Avenue and the 300 block of 5th Avenue were the two distinct places where these operations were conducted early on a Sunday morning, just before 10 a.m.
Chief Watkins explained that while some Huntington Police Department (HPD) officers assisted during the operations, their participation was more a matter of politeness, helping with logistics rather than taking the lead in the enforcement action.
State and federal officials are addressing immigration concerns, especially those involving people suspected of living in the country illegally, as part of a broader campaign that includes these activities.
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Even though a lot of information about the detainees is still unknown, it is obvious that a crucial component of West Virginia’s continued immigration enforcement policy is the cooperation of local, state, and federal law enforcement.
This collaboration is indicative of the state’s position in backing federal efforts to stop illegal immigration and hold those accused of criminal activity.
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More details about the detainees’ immigration status and the possible legal ramifications will probably surface as the case progresses.
But for the time being, West Virginia’s government is steadfast in its resolve to assist federal immigration enforcement by working in tandem with federal law enforcement.
“As a courtesy to our federal law enforcement partners, we provided two uniformed officers in a support role while agents conducted their operations,” Watkins stated. “As a general practice, we always try to accommodate requests for assistance from any of our law enforcement partners.”
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