A new report from the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia said that numerous statements made by state officials about a winter immigration crackdown in West Virginia were false or misleading. Three-quarters of the people arrested during the 15-day immigration arrest – called “Operation Country Roads” – had no criminal record, the group said.
“This analysis of ICE data shows the operation looked little to nothing like how it was described to the public,” ACLU-WV Executive Director Eli Baumwell said. “Records show zero detentions for sexual assault or any crime involving children and just two of the 593 arrests in West Virginia were for drug possession – both of which were misdemeanors.”Under the direction of Gov. Patrick Morrisey, West Virginia has participated in the federal 287(g) program that allows specially-trained police officers and jails to perform specified immigration enforcement functions under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s oversight. It’s one of the most wide-ranging agreements a state has forged with ICE under Pres. Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Morrisey also directed the West Virginia National Guard and the state Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation to participate in the immigration detainment program. In January, ICE and local law enforcement ...
By JAMELLE BOUIE Donald Trump knew as well as anyone that he had lost the 2020 presidential election fair and square. He knew there was no conspiracy to commit voter fraud — no mysterious mail bal...