State Pardons Board Endorses Deporting Illegal Inmates

March 27, 2007 02:04 PM CDT

Kellene Stockwell
Channel 2 News

The Nevada State Pardons Board has endorsed a plan to release and deport 500 illegal immigrant prisoners.

The idea was first proposed by Supreme Court Justice James Hardesty - a member of the pardons board. He says it would save the state up to $9 million annually.

The board is made up of Governor Jim Gibbons, Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto and the seven Supreme Court justices.

The board will meet again next month to finalize the release of the first 154 inmates.

Gibbons says they will only release non-violent offenders.

If they return to the U.S. and are caught, the offenders could face up to 20 years in federal prison.

http://www.ktvn.com/Global/story.asp?S=6287102