Stumbo issues advisory on immigrant arrests to local officials

Deflects question about Senate race

By Ronnie Ellis
CNHI News Service

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Attorney General Greg Stumbo Tuesday issued an advisory to local law enforcement officials on how to deal with foreign nationals or immigrants arrested in their communities.

He also said he will not form an exploratory campaign committee for the U.S. Senate – at least not this week. Stumbo recently said he has been encouraged to take on Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Stumbo said over the past year his office has received a growing number of calls asking what local law enforcement officials’ responsibilities are when they pick up foreign nationals. And some judges have asked about the requirement of bail for those who are not U.S. citizens and may be in the country illegally. At least one judge in western Kentucky, Stumbo said, had denied bail to such an individual.

“Kentucky law provides that every person is entitled to bail – except in case of the death penalty or when they might be a flight risk,â€