Thread: McDonnell presses feds for state immigration-enforcement

McDonnell presses feds for state immigration-enforcement authority

By Paige Winfield Cunningham
The Washington Times
5:18 p.m., Friday, June 10, 2011

Gov. Bob McDonnell said Friday the federal government is taking too long to decide whether some Virginia police officers should be authorized to deport illegal immigrants.

Last August, the governor asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow a group of 28 select officers to deport illegal immigrants who have engaged in terrorism, committed major drug and gang offenses, committed violent crimes like murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery and kidnapping, or found driving while intoxicated.

On Friday, he released a letter he sent last month to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, petitioning for speedy approval.

“We have patiently waited nine months for formal approval and the time to act is now,â€

McDonnell pushes immigration enforcement

Posted on Jun 10, 2011 in Inside Virginia

On May 12, 2011, after months of delay and inaction by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, Gov. Bob McDonnell wrote Secretary Janet Napolitano requesting immediate approval of the Commonwealth’s application for the Virginia Department of State Police to be granted limited immigration enforcement authority under a 287(g) agreement, pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

McDonnell spoke to Secretary Napolitano on May 1, 2011 to request a prompt approval of Virginia’s 287(g) application. In the follow-up May 12, 2011 letter to the Secretary, McDonnell wrote, “The application lodged by the State Police meets all requirements and expectations set forth by ICE. We have patiently waited nine months for formal approval and the time to act is now.â€