Governor Jan Brewer announced the Arizona Department of Corrections sent its first group of Southern Arizona housed inmates to the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE).
“This move saves Arizona taxpayers thousands of dollars a day,” said Governor Brewer. “It is time for the
federal government to step up and take responsibility for its failure to protect the border.”
The department transferred 39 inmates Friday from Arizona State Prison Complex – Tucson to ICE. Those 39 join 51 that were transferred to ICE last month from ASPC – Lewis.
The department houses about 6,300 criminal aliens – about 15 percent of the state’s inmate population.
Corrections Director Charles L. Ryan said the department will transfer custody of between 300 and 400 inmates this fiscal year and between 600 to 800 inmates in the next fiscal year.
Governor Brewer instructed the department to transfer custody of non-violent criminal aliens within 90 days of their mandatory release date. The move is already allowed under state law.
The inmates are transferred to ICE for eventual deportation.“We will continue to work with federal authorities to identify criminal aliens and deport them as soon as the law allows,” said Director Ryan.
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