PHOENIX, AZ – Last year Governor Janet Napolitano met with Arizona Department of Corrections Director Dora Schriro and Immigration and Customs (ICE) officials to propose training AZDOC staff for certain ICE functions that would expedite the deportation of eligible foreign national inmates.  Last December, that training became a reality and has since provided a total savings of $2,985,655 and 53,135 bed days.

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

According to the AZDOC, 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, which is an improvement from June 2005, when seven removals and 12 deportations occurred.

Twelve AZDOC employees, 10 staff and two supervisors, completed an intense training program and received official ICE certification. The training included topics pertaining to immigration enforcement including immigration law, civil rights and intercultural relations.
   
The ICE-trained AZDOC staff is located at facilities in Phoenix and Perryville.