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. 
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