By Brett Dunlap, Parkersburg News and Sentinel
PARKERSBURG — State law enforcement and corrections officials will be working with federal officials to address the issue of illegal immigrants throughout West Virginia.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey was at the Parkersburg Correctional Center on Wednesday to announce an agreement between the U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard and the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation to work together in addressing illegal immigration and related crimes.
Morrisey said he has signed an executive order allowing state agencies to “fully cooperate” with ICE and federal law enforcement to deal with illegal immigration under the federal 287(g) program which allows local law enforcement agencies to enter into working agreements with ICE, receive related training and gives them the authority to perform immigration enforcement related operations.
“Our intent is to take any legal necessary action to protect our citizens,” Morrisey said. “We need to make sure we are stepping up in this area.”
