Gov. Blunt Announces 'ICE Initiative'

Caption: (l to r) Colonel Rad Talburt (MSWP), Chief Todd Hurt (Capitol Police), [obscured] Director Mark James (DPS), Sen. Kevin Engler (R), and Colonel James F. Keathley (MSHP) stand behind Governor Matt Blunt while he announces his ICE initiative.

At a press conference August 27, 2007, Governor Matt Blunt announced a new initiative to fight illegal immigration. The announcement was made from the Governor's Office inside Missouri's Capitol with the heads of state law enforcement present.

Governor Blunt has instructed the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri State Water Patrol, and the Capitol Police Department to verify the identity of any person "presented for incarceration"--in other words, anyone placed under arrest. He is asking local and county law enforcement to adopt this practice voluntarily.

Colonel James F. Keathley, superintendent of the Patrol, has issued an e-mail order #08-07 to address this addition to General Order 71-01, which addresses immigration.

Troopers will verify the status of those persons they arrest using one of three ways: personal knowledge, a valid driver's license, or a records check with the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The state law enforcement agencies have applied to become certified through ICE, which falls under Homeland Security. If a memorandum of understanding is made with ICE, 25 state officers will attend five weeks of special training and deputization, allowing them to enforce federal immigration law as authorized through section 287 (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.