Gov. Morrisey provides update on ICE in West Virginia, directs state’s law enforcement agencies to assist ICE agents
By Autumn Shelton, RealWV
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – During his Thursday press conference, Gov. Patrick Morrisey provided an update on the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in West Virginia.
“There is a much bigger illegal immigration problem going on in West Virginia than anyone has previously known,” Morrisey stated, adding that there has been a “deadly flood of fentanyl” entering the state as a result of “porous borders.”
“We’re going to be cracking down pretty hard on illegal immigration here in the state as I’ve mentioned,” Morrisey continued.
According to Morrisey, he signed an executive order that directs the state’s law enforcement agencies (West Virginia Department of Homeland Security, West Virginia State Police and West Virginia Division of Corrections) to work with ICE agents and other federal officials.
Additionally, he stated that he sent a letter to law enforcement agencies, including Sheriff’s Departments and local law enforcement, asking them to cooperate with both his and President Donald Trump’s executive orders to “fight back against this terrible menace,” and to assist ICE agents.
“I want to do everything I can to protect West Virginians from the deadly drug epidemic,” Morrisey added. “And part of that is working with President Trump on cracking down on the illegal immigration issues and challenges facing our state.”
As of Thursday, Morrisey said that 72 individuals in West Virginia have been identified as part of the ICE raids currently occurring. 10 of those individuals have been moved out of state.
“We believe we have 13 people in our prisons and jails serving a West Virginia sentence,” Morrisey continued of those who have been detained thus far. “These aren’t just everyday people. We think they are illegal immigrants, but some of them have committed violent crimes. One committed murder, and is serving a prison sentence.”
Twenty six of the individuals have been charged and are being held by the U.S. Marshals Service or have local charges, and 36 have been arrested as a result of violating immigration laws, Morrisey noted.
He said the violations aren’t just due to a person walking across the border, instead some of the individuals have been deported, yet returned.
Morrisey stated that he would not give exact numbers on how many individuals are housed in West Virginia facilities, however, he said that individuals are located at Salem Correctional Center in Harrison County, Saint Marys Correctional Center in Pleasants County, Stevens Correctional Center in McDowell County, Huttonsville Correctional Center in Randolph County and Mt. Olive Correctional Complex in Fayette County.
Additionally, individuals are in Central Regional Jail in Braxton County, Eastern Regional Jail in Berkeley County, South Central Regional Jail in Kanawha County, North Central Regional Jail in Doddridge County, Southern Regional Jail in Raleigh County and Northern Regional Jail in Marshall County.
“This is an important issue for West Virginia,” Morrisey said. “It sickens me that we have had so many people die from fentanyl overdoses and that this problem has been allowed to linger for a long time.”
