The following is content from an external news source, republished with permission.
by Amelia Ferrell Knisely, West Virginia Watch
October 21, 2025
Gov. Patrick Morrisey said that Bridge Day — the state’s largest one-day festival — also included additional arrests of undocumented immigrants in West Virginia.
In the last month, the state’s partnership with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement has resulted in the arrests of 60 undocumented immigrants as Morrisey supports President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
“I’m glad that we’re taking these extra steps to protect our citizens,” Morrisey said Tuesday at a press conference in Beckley. The Republican governor was joined by West Virginia State Police officers and elected officials in support of his immigration efforts.
West Virginia’s is participating in ICE’s 287(g) program that allows specially-trained local and state police and National Guard members to perform specific enforcement duties of ICE agents.
The governor has also directed state police and the jails leaders to fully cooperate with ICE.
According to Morrisey’s office, members of the West Virginia State Police Turnpike, the West Virginia Public Service Commission, Drug Enforcement Agency and ICE arrested nine undocumented individuals Saturday while directing traffic for nearby Bridge Day festivities.
Additionally, state police and ICE arrested an additional nine undocumented immigrants on U.S. 19 near Interstate 79.
“Gov. Morrisey’s leadership has given the State Police the tools to crack down on illegal immigration and carry out our duty to protect West Virginians,” said Col. Jim Mitchell, Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police in a news release Tuesday. “We will continue to take any action allowed under the law to arrest and detain those who have violated our country’s immigration laws.”
Morrisey said that the individuals arrested were sent to South Central Regional Jail, which is overcrowded. The jail, located in Charleston, is one of three West Virginia jails holding immigrants detained from around the country due to the state’s contract with ICE during President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
ICE pays West Virginia $90 for each day it holds a detainee. All three of the jails working with ICE are over capacity, according to the latest data shared with state lawmakers.
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West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.
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