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Mass. immigration plan likely short-lived
By UPI Staff
United Press International
December 15, 2006

BOSTON (UPI) -- A deal Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney signed allowing state troopers to arrest illegal immigrants will be rescinded next month by the new governor.

Under the agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, troopers from five specialized units will receive training on immigration law and will be certified to question, detain, and arrest suspected illegal immigrants without warrants.

The agreement was opposed by Governor-elect Deval Patrick, who takes office on Jan. 4, about the time the troopers will complete their training, the Boston Globe reported Thursday.

Richard Chacon, spokesman for Patrick, said the new governor plans to immediately rescind the agreement as it adds more of a burden to the officers' workload, and is "impractical and unwise."

Massachusetts became the ninth jurisdiction to enter into such immigration policing agreements with federal officials since the practice was authorized in 1996. The list includes Alabama, Florida, and a few counties in California and North Carolina, the Globe said.

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