Ogden, UT – Gov. Spencer Cox announced a coordinated effort by the state government to support the incoming presidential administration’s priorities on illegal immigration. The initiative will be led by the Utah Department of Public Safety and the Utah Department of Corrections, with a focus on enhancing collaboration with federal, state, and local partners to identify, incarcerate, and deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes and pose a threat to public safety.
The effort will be guided by five key priorities:
1. Identify additional “intercept points” in the criminal justice system where individuals arrested for crimes can be identified as illegal immigrants.
2. Develop training and guidance to help local and state authorities identify criminal illegal immigrants for deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
3. Collaborate with Utah’s newly created Fentanyl Taskforce to address criminal activity related to fentanyl distribution by illegal immigrants.
4. Work with the Utah legislature in the upcoming session to enhance policies related to criminal behavior by illegal immigrants.
5. Coordinate with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to identify illegal immigrants in Utah’s criminal justice system and reduce federal regulations that hinder the ability to detain criminal detainees.
Gov. Cox emphasized, “When it comes to immigration policy, the safety of Utah residents is my top priority. Utah will continue to welcome refugees and immigrants who enter the country lawfully, and we will continue pushing for reforms to the asylum process and more visas to support our workforce needs. However, we have zero tolerance for those who threaten public safety while in the country illegally.”
The governor also addressed the impact of federal immigration failures on Utah. Illegal immigrants make up an estimated 4.6% of Utah’s prison population, costing the state nearly $16 million per year. The majority of crimes committed by illegal immigrants in prison are sex offenses and murder.
Additionally, there has been a significant increase in drug distribution along the Jordan River Trail, with over half of all drug-related felony offenses this year attributed to individuals who are in the country illegally. In spring 2024, law enforcement identified the presence of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal gang involved in violent crimes, including sextortion, drug distribution, and attempted homicide, further escalating safety concerns in Utah.