Governor Riley Requests Immigration Training for More Troopers

Press Release

Governor Riley Requests Immigration Training for More Troopers

Governor Bob Riley is asking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide more Alabama state troopers with required training that allows them to enforce federal immigration law.

Under an agreement Governor Riley signed with the federal government in 2003, state troopers who complete a five-week training program are allowed to arrest and detain illegal aliens and turn them over to federal officials for deportation.

Sixty Alabama state troopers have gone through federal immigration training. Some of the illegal aliens arrested in Alabama had prior convictions for crimes such as rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking in other states. Others were also charged with crimes such as illegal possession of firearms and Social Security fraud.

"It makes perfect sense to have state troopers and the federal government cooperating on illegal immigration. Our troopers who have gone through the training are doing an outstanding job to combat illegal immigration in Alabama. They've made Alabama a leader among the states on this issue," said Governor Riley.

The training takes place at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston. The course mirrors the training federal immigration and customs agents receive. It focuses exclusively on immigration and nationality law and issues related to enforcement.

The cost of the training is paid for by the federal government. The state pays the salaries and travel costs incurred by state troopers who participate in the training program.

A federal law passed in 1996 grants local jurisdictions and states the ability to enforce federal immigration law with proper training and supervision by federal authorities. In 2003, Alabama became the second state in the nation to participate in the program when Governor Riley signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Florida was the first state to participate, in 2002. Under the agreement, trained state troopers are authorized to enforce federal immigration law during the course of their normal duties.

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