CHARLESTON, WV – At a press conference on Jan 30th, Governor Patrick Morrisey pledged to coordinate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to support President Trump’s policies on illegal immigration. Governor Morrisey announced a series of actions being taken by his administration to engage ICE, state and local law enforcement, and the Division of Corrections to help detain and deport illegal aliens in West Virginia.  

Governor Morrisey announced he has signed an executive order (EO) to direct the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security, the West Virginia State Police, and the West Virginia Division of Corrections to fully cooperate with ICE and other federal law enforcement agencies. The EO also directs all officials, departments, divisions, agencies, boards, and employees under the authority of the Governor to cooperate and implement this order. The full EO can be read here. 

Watch Governor Morrisey’s full remarks.

Governor Morrisey also sent a letter to local law enforcement urging them to aid ICE and provide support in any way possible. In the letter, Morrisey highlights President Trump’s Executive Order entitled "Securing our Borders” and states his intent to take any legal action necessary to protect the residents of our state from criminal illegal aliens.

Morrisey then briefed the press on the number of detainees in West Virginia and their immigration statuses. As of 9:30 AM on January 30, 2025, 13 illegal aliens are housed in West Virginia prisons who were convicted of crimes and serving a sentence. 23 have been arrested on federal or local charges and have active ICE detainers. 36 are being detained on immigration charges, including for matters such as failing to appear before a deportation judge or entering the country after being previously deported. West Virginia had a total of 72 detainees as of this morning, but 10 have recently been transferred out of state by ICE. 53 of these detainees have been picked up since January 20, 2025, President Trump’s first day in office.

“I am so thankful that we have President Trump in the White House. President Trump has actually taken on this illegal immigration problem, he’s taken the bull by the horns and he is acting. And West Virginia is going to partner with President Trump... And as long as I'm in the governor's mansion, we're going to do everything we can to partner with them on these critical issues. And that's because I think President Trump is committed to keeping Americans safe, just as I'm committed to keeping West Virginians safe from the ravages of illegal immigration and drugs,” said Governor Morrisey.