Returns from White House after executive order banning transgender athletes
By Steven Allen Adams for The Weirton Daily Times
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a document Thursday allowing West Virginia’s correctional officers to assist immigration enforcement officials and provided an update on his visit to the White House for the signing of an executive order banning transgender student-athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports.
During a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Governor’s Reception Room at the State Capitol Building, Morrisey signed a letter of intent to participate in the 287(g) Program through the federal Immigration and Nationality Act.
The 287(g) Program allows the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to work with state, county, and city law enforcement officers to take part in specific immigration enforcement roles. Morrisey’s letter will allow state correctional officers to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in transportation of suspected illegal immigrants in state custody to ICE facilities.
“This does a few things,” Morrisey explained. “One, it frees up the ICE agents to conduct the important work of keeping our country safe and to help keeping West Virginia safe. It also speeds up the deportation process. West Virginia has never applied for this program until now.”
