Some state Republican lawmakers are looking forward to new immigration policy under President elect Donald Trump.

The president elect has talked about mass deportations of illegal immigrants, deportations and the millions.

Now, is that possible?

Today, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer told Kentucky lawmakers about that and about how the agency works with undocumented immigrants.

Now our June Lefler has more on this report.

Lawmakers at the state House ask whose administration was tougher on immigration.

Current President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump?

Some of your questions that you're asking are in more of a national level that quite honestly, I don't have the answer to.

Respectfully.

An ICE officer covering Kentucky and southern Indiana deflected these questions, including one about Trump's next administration.

Do the the immigration and homeland security agencies currently have enough individuals, enough staff and personnel and resources to do mass enforcement, mass deportation?

I can tell you that we're limited manpower wise, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

So without knowing what the plan is or what the policy, there's no way I can answer that.

ICE detains and potentially deports undocumented people who turn up in Kentucky's local jails.

The majority of our of our ability to be able to carry out our job here in the interior is based on foundation of partnerships and cooperation with local jails and local departments.

That's that's who we are.

Our goal is to be a valued, participating law enforcement partner in all of our communities.

We want safer communities just like any other law enforcement officers do.

The officer says what happens to them depends on public safety and personal circumstances.

What's the reasoning to allow someone to stay in our country versus being detained?

What's the thought process there?

How do they determine that?

A little bit of everything, Sara.

First, first and foremost, you're looking at a three main threat.

You're looking at public safety, national security.

So if there's not if there's not any any major issues there, then you're moving on down the line.

And sometimes, like I said, the bed space for for immigration specifically is a hurdle that there is in some some ways insurmountable.

Right.

It seems like listening to your explanation that you are kind of doing law enforcement with one hand tied behind your back and hopefully will correct that over the next several months.

You've spoken to the important work that you do on public safety.

What's the effect on children?

Are we deporting any children from Kentucky?

And if we're not?

What happens when a parent is deported?

Every encounter that we have, we're asking the questions regarding children.

You know, we we ask mother and father, you know, do you have any kids?

Where are they in that type of situation?

And those are all part of the the aggravating and mitigating factors that we're going through the process to determine, you know, if and when we take custody of someone This year.

State Senator Robbie Mills has questioned Kentucky's law enforcement, education and elections officials about undocumented immigrants.

These agencies say they can't determine how many undocumented people are in Kentucky, citing the lack of data for Kentucky Edition.

I'm June Leffler.

Thank you.

June.

ICE currently has 27 officers in Kentucky, according to the agency.