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Governor Ernie Fletcher’s Communications Office
Governor Fletcher Takes Action to Remove Illegal Immigrants Who Commit Crimes in Kentucky, Ensures That Illegal Immigrants Are Not Receiving Tax-Supported Benefits Intended for Legal Residents

Press Release Date: Thursday, September 27, 2007
Contact Information: Jodi Whitaker
502-564-2611

‘Kentucky will not be a safe haven for illegal immigrants who commit felonies’

FRANKFORT, Ky. – In a continuing effort to protect the public, Governor Ernie Fletcher has notified federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials that Kentucky wants authority to verify the immigration status of foreign-born felons in Kentucky prisons.

Governor Fletcher made the request in a letter dated September 14 to ICE Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers. The letter proposes that Kentucky be allowed to participate in a detention and removal program under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Currently, there are more than 460 foreign-born offenders either incarcerated in Kentucky prisons or in the community on supervised release. All of these persons are convicted felons and many are illegal aliens. Although all of these convicted felons are subject to deportation, only 82 of them have an ICE detainer lodged against them. Without a change in policy, a significant number of illegal aliens who have been convicted of felonies will be released from Kentucky state correctional facilities.

“Kentucky will not be a safe haven for illegal immigrants who commit felonies,â€