FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AG WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1996 (202) 514-2008 TDD (202) 514-1888 ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO AND GOVERNOR LAWTON CHILES ANNOUNCE COMPREHENSIVE FLORIDA IMMIGRATION INITIATIVE WASHINGTON, DC -- Attorney General Janet Reno and Governor Lawton Chiles today announced a comprehensive immigration initiative for the State of Florida. The plan focuses on removing criminal aliens from Florida's prisons, streets and jails; protecting Florida's ports and borders from illegal aliens and smugglers; safeguarding Florida jobs for legal workers; and improving the delivery of immigration services. "We are prepared to meet Florida's immigration challenges on every front," said Reno. "We will work with Florida law enforcement to catch more criminal aliens and remove them from the United States, and we will aggressively prosecute and seek prison time for those who return here illegally. We are stepping up our enforcement of immigration laws in the workplace, and we are encouraging lawful permanent residents to permanently join our nation's family as United States Citizens." Chiles called the initiative a product of remarkable cooperation among federal, state and local government, and said its impact would be real. "This initiative establishes a partnership that will help lift the heavy burden of illegal immigration off the people of Florida," said Chiles. "The people of Florida are demanding the kind of comprehensive action this plan provides. We must continue to work together to develop real solutions -- and resist quick fixes to complicated problems." The plan is designed to maximize federal, state and local resources and includes both new projects and enhancements to existing programs. Highlights include: þ Establishment of projects at the Dade and Palm Beach County jails to identify and remove certain categories of criminal aliens; þ Increased sharing of information about criminal aliens to improve apprehension, prosecution and removal of these criminals; þ Aggressive use of prosecution strategies by federal authorities will target previously deported aliens who illegally re-enter the U.S., illegal aliens possessing firearms, and manufacturers, distributors and users of fraudulent documents; þ Increased detention capacity for criminal aliens to support the immigration initiative; þ Increased resources for the Institutional Hearing Program (IHP), which processes criminal aliens for deportation while they are serving state sentences, expediting their removal from the United States; þ Creation of an Airport Court at the Miami International airport to expedite the removal of aliens who attempt illegal entry through the airport; þ Expansion of INS' pilot Employment Verification System (EVP) to the Florida tourism industry to help a critical industry ensure they are only hiring authorized workers; þ Increased staffing for the Citizenship USA office which handles all naturalization work in the State of Florida. Reno said the initiative will lead to a more aggressive and efficient immigration system throughout the state, and make Florida home to the nation's toughest deportation program. She also spoke of the important role immigrants have played in Florida and said the plan will offer better service to those immigrants and visitors to the state while cracking down on those who flout our immigration laws. ### **A summary of the Florida Immigration Initiative is attached. 96-241