Jeanfromfillmore
01-27-2010, 02:38 AM
Official: No plans to ship Calif inmates to Mexico
The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO
California has no plans to ship inmates to prisons in Mexico, despite an off-the-cuff remark this week from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a corrections official said Tuesday.
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesman Gordon Hinkle said prison officials have not discussed or studied housing inmates in another country. He said they will consult with the governor's office after Schwarzenegger made the comments Monday before a gathering of the Sacramento Press Club.
"We're going to look into what might be feasible, but there are no current proposals," Hinkle said.
Schwarzenegger had said the state could save money by working with the Mexican government to build and operate prisons for some California inmates.
More than 70 percent of the 19,000 illegal immigrants imprisoned in California are from Mexico.
In a money-saving proposal last year, Schwarzenegger considered commuting the sentences of many illegal immigrants so they could be deported. The idea never gained enough support to make it part of the budget deal.
The Republican governor also has pressed the federal government to reimburse the state for housing illegal immigrants who commit crimes in California.
"We understand the governor is looking for creative ways to address the budget issues in this state, and that's what it sounds like he was referring to in his Press Club statements," Hinkle said.
Published: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 18:23 PST
http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/CA_California_Prisons_474827C.shtml
The Associated Press
SACRAMENTO
California has no plans to ship inmates to prisons in Mexico, despite an off-the-cuff remark this week from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a corrections official said Tuesday.
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesman Gordon Hinkle said prison officials have not discussed or studied housing inmates in another country. He said they will consult with the governor's office after Schwarzenegger made the comments Monday before a gathering of the Sacramento Press Club.
"We're going to look into what might be feasible, but there are no current proposals," Hinkle said.
Schwarzenegger had said the state could save money by working with the Mexican government to build and operate prisons for some California inmates.
More than 70 percent of the 19,000 illegal immigrants imprisoned in California are from Mexico.
In a money-saving proposal last year, Schwarzenegger considered commuting the sentences of many illegal immigrants so they could be deported. The idea never gained enough support to make it part of the budget deal.
The Republican governor also has pressed the federal government to reimburse the state for housing illegal immigrants who commit crimes in California.
"We understand the governor is looking for creative ways to address the budget issues in this state, and that's what it sounds like he was referring to in his Press Club statements," Hinkle said.
Published: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 18:23 PST
http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/CA_California_Prisons_474827C.shtml