Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has aligned with the Trump administration in seeking the transfer of criminal illegal immigrants from the territory’s prisons to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. The initiative brings to the fore Mr. Bryan’s stance on deporting undocumented individuals who have committed crimes, while also highlighting his broader policy differences with the administration regarding non-criminal immigrants.
The governor has expressed firm support for removing undocumented felons from the territory’s correctional system, arguing that local taxpayers should not bear the financial burden of incarcerating individuals who are not U.S. citizens.
“You have states refusing to send back undocumented felons… That’s insane,” Bryan said, adding that deporting these individuals is a logical step. “Right now, I’m looking to see if the federal government can take all our undocumented prisoners and send them back to their country and let their tax money pay for their incarceration.”
The high cost of maintaining the prison population in the U.S. Virgin Islands has added urgency to the governor’s initiative. In July 2024, the Bureau of Corrections reported that housing 238 inmates cost the territory approximately $76,160 per day, translating to an annual expense of $27.8 million. With limited financial resources, the territory sees deportation as a potential relief from this growing financial strain.
While Governor Bryan supports the Trump administration’s position on deporting criminal illegal immigrants, he has drawn a clear distinction when it comes to non-criminal undocumented individuals. He has issued a directive prohibiting local government agencies from assisting ICE in deportation operations against peaceful immigrants residing in the territory.
Mr. Bryan’s approach reflects an attempt to balance economic realities with humanitarian concerns. On one hand, deporting undocumented felons aligns with public safety and financial interests. On the other, his administration remains firm in shielding law-abiding immigrants from federal deportation efforts.
British Caribbean News
