Andy Beshear criticizes ICE ankle chains, demands humane treatment of detainees

FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY: Gov. Andy Beshear addressed immigration enforcement and practices by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a recent television interview on Wednesday, February 18. 

Speaking on MS NOW’s 'Morning Joe,' Beshear remarks emphasized the importance of upholding dignity and humane treatment, even while recognizing the need for border security and law enforcement.

Andy Beshear comments on faith, humanity, and ICE’s tactics

Beshear spoke about ICE’s enforcement methods during the broadcast, “it is unacceptable to have a body count from ICE’s actions or to see these people injured,” and stressed that if individuals are motivated by religious values, they would not want to see people “chained at the ankles.”

Beshear acknowledged that while border security and immigration law enforcement are necessary saying, “Yes, border security is national security. And, yes, we have to enforce our immigration laws.”

He continued, "The way that they are treating people is just not right. Because, again, even if somebody is in this country illegally, and, thus, needs to be deported, they are still a child of God, and how we treat them is incredibly important."

The governor maintained that enforcing laws does not require abandoning basic compassion and dignity toward others. He stated, "We can enforce our laws in a humane way, and also one that recognizes and protects the rights of American citizens and everybody else.”

Beshear's previously commented on 'The View' criticizing enforcement action in Kentucky, "Every ICE agent should be withdrawn from every city and every community that they're in. This organization has to be reformed from the top-down."

He continued, "Secretary Noem needs to be fired, and every agent needs to retrained," and further added the "body-count of American citizens" should lead to a "pause to pull everybody back."

Andy Beshear criticism of ICE intensifies clash with state authorities

Attorney General Russell Coleman fired back at Beshear's comments, saying, "My view as the chief law enforcement officer of this commonwealth, someone that's carried a badge and a gun, someone that has been a federal prosecutor, is that statement that the governor made was absurd."

Coleman explained that the dispute centers on Beshear’s "commentary" versus the reality of which agencies fall under his control. While the Kentucky State Police operate under Beshear’s authority, they currently collaborate with ICE.

Meanwhile, Coleman noted that his office works with the state’s 120 county sheriffs’ offices, many of which also cooperate with the DHS.

"I don't want to set up a straw-dog argument because the reality is the collaboration is never going to stop here because those of us who have taken an oath to protect families are going to work with our federal partners," Coleman said, highlighting recent successes along the Tug Fork River, where such collaboration led to the arrests of 650 illegal immigrants in West Virginia.

He added, "The attorney general can issue opinions of law. He can issue certain advisory opinions about what state law means or requires. But there are very few instances, in Florida at least, where the attorney general can compel another constitutional officer, like sheriffs, to comply with state law."

Coleman further criticized Beshear’s stance, stating, "I think this from a practical and policy perspective, this is a very foolish and very dangerous statement by the governor of Kentucky," pointing to what he described as chaos in Minnesota resulting from similar opposition to ICE operations.