NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

July 12, 2006

Foreign national deportation of eligible state inmates promises big returns for Arizona taxpayers.

     One year ago today, Governor Janet Napolitano held a state Summit on Illegal Immigration in Flagstaff. At the summit Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) Director Dora Schriro met with Immigration and Customs (ICE) officials to propose training ADC staff to perform certain ICE functions, which would expedite the deportation of eligible foreign national inmates, save beds and lower taxpayer expenditures. The program has paid huge dividends since it’s inception last December, saving a total of $2,985,655 and 53,135 bed days.

“Our staff has done a phenomenal job and is making a huge difference,” Schriro said. “Their effort to deport eligible prisoners sooner provides Arizona taxpayers welcome relief.”

From December 2005 to June 2006, 452 removal orders were issued and 255 foreign nationals deported. In June 2006, 142 removal orders were issued and 43 foreign nationals deported. A marked improvement over June 2005, just prior to last year’s summit, when there were only seven removal orders and just 12 deportations.

The 12 ADC employees, 10 staff and two supervisors, completed an intense training program and received official certification from ICE last October 13. The training covered a wide range of topics pertaining to immigration enforcement, including immigration law, civil rights and intercultural relations.

ADC’s two intake centers where ADC staff is assigned are located at ASPC-Phoenix and ASPC-Perryville.