ICE quietly surged personnel into West Virginia in January, netting 650 illegal immigrants — all without the violent pushback and chaos that’s erupted in places such as Minnesota.
The surge lasted from Jan. 5 to Jan. 19 — just more than two weeks.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Philadelphia office, which covers West Virginia, said it worked with state and local authorities to carry out the operation. That’s a decidedly different tone than in prominent sanctuary jurisdictions, where local officials complain about ICE’s presence and urge resistance to the federal law enforcement agency.
“I want to thank the men and women of ICE for their outstanding partnership with various state entities, including the State Police, and their tireless work here in West Virginia,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said in a statement celebrating the “collaboration” his state showed.
Jefferson County Sheriff Tom Hansen hailed the “professionalism and work ethic” of the ICE officers, pointing to “how well they interacted with the citizens.”
Among the arrests was Sagar Singh, a citizen of India who was nabbed while driving a commercial vehicle. He failed to stop for a mandatory break check and was found to have been here despite previously being ordered deported.
ICE also arrested Ling Yan, a Chinese citizen, who had two convictions for child endangerment and was defying a deportation order.
Both federal and state officials cited West Virginia’s extensive participation in the 287(g) program, which trains local officers to assist in immigration enforcement, for the success of the operation.
Some 25 agencies, ranging from local police and sheriff’s departments to the state National Guard and State Police Department, are part of the 287(g) program.
In Minnesota, where federal agents are in the middle of a similar immigration enforcement surge, just nine agencies — all local — are signed up for the 287(g) program.
