FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AG FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1994 (202) 616-2777 TDD (202) 514-1888 BUREAU OF PRISONS COMPLETES PRISONER EXCHANGE WITH MEXICAN AUTHORITIES WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In keeping with her pledge to step up efforts to transfer illegal alien criminals out of U.S. federal prisons, Attorney General Janet Reno today announced 28 Mexican citizens convicted of committing crimes in the United States were sent back to their native country. "Officials from both governments deserve praise for joining us in this effort," said Attorney General Reno. "It is a common sense answer to help ensure that much needed U.S. prison space is used for U.S. citizens." At the same time that the Mexican nationals were taken across the border, Mexican authorities released 16 U.S. citizen prisoners to the United States. Recent statistics from the Bureau of Prisons show that some 20,171 non-citizens are serving time in federal prisons or are awaiting sentencing on federal charges. Nearly one out of every four inmates is not a U.S. citizen. Another 28,000 non-citizens are in state prisons -- about four percent of the state total. This is the fourth transfer under a program which resulted from the Attorney General's visit to Mexico in October 1993 when she met with Jorge Carpizo, then Attorney General of Mexico. Some 222 criminal aliens have been returned to Mexico since 1993. The transfer program is available to state correction systems, as well. The Department of Justice is working with correction facilities in states with large numbers of criminal aliens to help them take advantage of the program. Today's transfer included five American female prisoners. They, as well as the others who were transferred, will serve their remaining sentences in federal prisons in the United States. #### 94-692