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.
  
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**A summary of the Florida Immigration Initiative is attached.

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