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Morrisey’s ICE Cooperation Shakes Immigration Law In W.Va.

Last week, Gov. Patrick Morisey announced directives for state and local law enforcement to increase immigration enforcement. This week, he signed a letter of intent to join the ICE 287(g) program, which allows for local coordination with ICE to take detained and identified illegal immigrants in local jails.

West Virginia University Immigration Law Clinic Director Alison Peck says the programs Morrisey and President Donald Trump are looking to enforce aren’t new. And the number of detentions the governor announced in January weren’t yet abnormal. But she does expect a difference in how the enforcement, and potential future policies, could impact the immigrant community as a whole.

“Honestly, the biggest change that I see is among U.S. citizens,” Peck said. “I have people that are in faith based organizations, people that are parents reaching out to me, who are very concerned about how this might affect their family or their community.”

Robert S. Whitehill, chief supervising attorney at the clinic who served as a WVU law professor for two decades, said now feels like a standout moment during his time in the immigration law field in the region.

“There was a time when immigration would not go to places of worship, schools, healthcare, institutions and courts, but now they are able to do that now, well, that means that people who are concerned about their status may avoid going to church or to a hospital or to school or even to

to court, for fear of being picked up by [ICE],” Whitehill said.

Whitehill continued that this could have reverberating implications, such as people skipping court dates for issues like domestic violence.

As for the current enforcement push, Morrisey linked immigration to fentanyl distribution. Peck says she hasn’t seen the issue come up in her practice.

Morrisey’s office pointed to his previous statements about broad-scale illegal fentanyl trade and a West Virginia Health Statistics spreadsheet of overdose deaths.

“I’ve always said fentanyl comes in through multiple ways,” Morrisey said at last week’s press conference. “It comes in through the ports of entry and between the ports of entry, and all the studies we’ve done and the work we’ve seen reflects that fact.”

Morrisey has not shown new data from the governor’s office linking the enforcement push to fentanyl distribution.
Peck pointed to free legal resources for immigrants, including the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights resources page with legal information and hotlines; The Know Your Rights 4 Immigrants app that will audibly play an English reading of rights residents retain, regardless of immigration status; the Immigrant Legal Resource Center’s red card webpage with those rights written out; and the National Immigration Law Center’s Guide for Employers.

The State’s Washington Delegation Has Changed: What It Means

Curtis Tate spoke with Sam Workman, director of the Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs at West Virginia University, about what the changes mean for the state.

A lot has changed in West Virginia’s congressional delegation since the election. Sen. Joe Manchin retired and former Gov. Jim Justice took his place. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito moved up in seniority. And former state Treasurer Riley Moore began his first term in the House of Representatives.

Curtis Tate spoke with Sam Workman, director of the Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs at West Virginia University, about what the changes mean for the state.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Tate: I spoke to former Congressman Nick Rahall recently. When he was elected in 1976, West Virginia had two very powerful and senior senators and six members of the House. Hasn’t the state’s influence diminished in Washington since?

Workman: You can’t lose senators like (Robert) Byrd, (Jay) Rockefeller and now Manchin over the course of not a very long time in political terms, institutional terms, and not have slightly diminished power, in the delegation. And that diminishment comes along sort of two dimensions. The first is we’re replacing senior senators. It’s not so much that there’s a step down from Manchin to Capito. It’s more just that we have two members of our delegation, Moore and Justice, who are new members. And new members, of course, have to sort of work their way up and gain the expertise necessary for the committees they’re on. That’s less a constraint on Justice, more so on on Riley Moore, just because of the committees they’ve been appointed to.

But there’s also another dimension that is at play since Representative Rahall was in office, and that is that in both chambers, the leadership, relative to the committees, controls a lot more in the modern Congress. Used to be that lots of things were delegated to subcommittees, and in particular, subcommittee chairs had a lot of power, and that’s a little less so now. Especially in the Republican Party, the leadership really sets the agenda in a much more hard way for the caucus. Now, the member of our delegation that looms large here is Senator Capito, because she obviously has climbed the ranks within the Republican leadership. She is the committee chair for policy for the Republicans, so that’s a big deal. So while the delegation as a whole probably has less power than some of the past delegations, certainly she has a tremendous amount of power.

Tate: Rahall had a very active first two terms, during Jimmy Carter’s presidency. Carter signed a lot of legislation he supported. Do you think we could expect the same from Riley Moore?

Workman: The thing we have to have to remember, too, when we’re talking about our delegation, is the tremendous political change that’s occurred in the state in my lifetime, certainly since Representative Rahall was in office. When we think about legislative success, there’s a fundamental asymmetry that should at least guide the broad outlines of our thinking on that. And it involves the fact that typically, Democrats see a very active, even proactive role for government involvement in an entire range of issues that are not only important in the state, but nationally, Republicans do not. They see themselves as sort of maintaining local control, putting the brakes on government, and that fundamental asymmetry alters what we would probably consider to be legislative success.

Tate: A lot of the work of members of Congress does involve constituent services. Wouldn’t someone like Moore get involved if, say, a veteran in the Eastern Panhandle needed help with VA benefits?

Workman: I have every expectation that his office would get involved. I don’t see a big difference in the parties in terms of basic levels of constituent assistance, in terms of service, government, goods and products and all of that sort of stuff. I think it’s important to remember that our state is unique in that the Republican delegation here has historically, at least so far, supported many broad based things to improve the economy here. And so I don’t see any huge difference in terms of constituency service for many of these things. Riley Moore has deep roots in the state. He understands his family, understands has had deep roots here for a long time, and understands sort of the plight of many West Virginians, and if we’re talking about the issue of veterans, especially veterans, I think that will just be par for the course as we move forward.

Tate: Can Justice carve out a meaningful role in the Senate when he’s near the bottom in seniority?

Workman: The reality is, for a freshman senator, it’s pretty tough. I will note, though, that he appears to be on the Energy Committee and Agriculture Committee. So those are issues that he has dealt with for a lifetime. It’s where his businesses are. His entrepreneurship has been located in those issues substantively. That is some indication that at least he can have a say on issues that are important, not just to him personally, but the state.

I would also note that it’s hard to handicap Senator Justice’s influence, because, as we know, he is a big buddy of President Trump. I think that alone probably lends him a bit more influence than the average senator would have. They know each other, their families know each other, and there’s a long relationship there. It’s not like he was on President Trump’s radar just this year. He was a prominent figure in Trump’s first administration. I think anyone expecting the similar level of influence we would for, say, an average freshman, that’s probably not the case for Senator Justice, but we have to wait and see how he makes use of that relationship in terms of being a senator, and the extent to which he does.

Tate: Would Justice’s or Capito’s influence wane if the White House changes parties in 2028?

Workman: Certainly it does and more so for Senator Justice than for Senator Capito. I only say that because Senator Capito has been around for a while now and has worked her way up the ranks of the party. She played a prominent role in President Biden’s administration, in terms of being there. Just think about the number of times we saw her at the podium with Senator (Mitch) McConnell, representing the Republican leadership. So it does matter. I think it matters disproportionately for Senator Justice. Senator Capito has been in politics a while. Senator Justice, he’s always sort of forged his own brand of doing the job of a politician. Who’s to say what the future holds there, and whether those folks would stick around for another Democratic presidential administration? They might, but I don’t think we know anything about that.

What’s Slowing Mountain State’s Population Loss? Immigration

International migration added more than 2,800 residents. Another 500, and the state would have broken even.

The bad news? West Virginia lost more than 500 residents from 2023 to 2024, according to new data from the U.S. Census. It’s one of only three states to lose population – Vermont and Mississippi are the others – and of those, it lost the most.

The good news? The state’s population loss is smaller than it has been, says Brad Humphries, a professor of economics at West Virginia University’s John Chambers School of Business and Economics.

“Things are improving,” he said. “We’re not hemorrhaging residents like we were a couple of years ago.”

A large part of the reason: More people are moving to West Virginia, notably, from other countries. International migration added more than 2,800 residents. Another 500, and the state would have broken even.

The total net migration to the state, including domestic and international, was about 7,300. The census data does not break down countries, or states, of origin.

“That is certainly one of the important factors that’s offsetting the higher death rate and lower birth rate,” Humphreys said.

West Virginia had the highest population loss because of deaths than any state but Pennsylvania. The number of deaths, 7,800, was actually higher than Florida’s, now a state of 23 million people.

“Florida is such a much larger state than we are, and to have the same number of deaths just tells you how unhealthy the population in West Virginia is,” Humphreys said.

Humphreys noted that West Virginia’s high death rate and declining birth rate aren’t likely to change. Therefore, any chance that the state will reverse its overall population decline depends on migration from other states and other countries.

“It’s going to be highly dependent on that migration, because the declining birth rate and pretty high death rate,” he said. “Those are long-term trends that don’t change easily.”

Texas and Florida led the country’s population gains in 2024, partly due to their location, Humphreys says. That could put states like West Virginia at a disadvantage.

“Anywhere in the Sun Belt.” he said, “That’s a big overall migration trend is people want to live where it’s warm.”

West Virginia’s total population remains over 1.7 million, which ranks 39th out of 50.

Regional Focus Makes Appalachia Stronger, Gayle Manchin Says

Beckley native Gayle Manchin became the first West Virginian to serve as federal co-chair of the 13-state Appalachian Regional Commission.

Curtis Tate spoke with her recently about the commission’s accomplishments since President Joe Biden nominated her to lead it in 2021.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Tate: In general, how do you feel about what the commission has accomplished during your time as federal co-chair?

Manchin: The commission, in and of itself, is a remarkable entity, much greater in scope and perspective than I had any idea when I came in as federal co-chair. So you have a staff of about 70 people that have a great deal of experience and expertise in what they do, whether it’s research, communications, data analysts, evaluations for projects, writing RFPs for projects. So there truly is a well-skilled workforce that continues beyond and above a federal co-chair who comes in generally at four-year intervals, and our job is to just hit the road running and let these people do what they do best.

But over the last three and a half years, I think the greatest thing that I have witnessed is people coming together, more collaboration, more connection. And I think for a couple of reasons. I think COVID – everyone was so tired of being locked up and locked in. I couldn’t travel. And so once we could travel, people wanted to get out, particularly in our region, because it’s beautiful, wonderful to be out. So I think that encouraged this beginning. Let’s collaborate. Let’s get together. Let’s work better together.

And so what I hope we have accomplished is something that will continue, far beyond me being the federal co-chair, that these relationships that have been built and established will continue, and as a result of that, our Appalachian region will continue to just get stronger and better in what it’s able to do, because we have proven through the ARISE grant, and all through our Appalachian Leadership Institute, where we bring a cohort of 40 together from all the 13 states each year to work together and learn together. These are leaders. These leaders have formed their own alumni association. They don’t want to lose that connection that they’ve made with these other individuals. And so my hope is that that will just continue to grow, and that when I look back on this incredible opportunity that I’ve had, that I will never have to say I could have, should have, that I can say, ‘Wow. You know, we did some great things together.’

Tate: You have said you wanted to break down barriers between the states and have them work collaboratively. Is that happening?

Manchin: It definitely is happening, and it’s happening among our academic institutions. We’re not, it’s not this feeling that we have to compete all the time. You look at Marshall and WVU, they’ve partnered now in so many great things. Cybersecurity is one of them that they’re working together on. But they’re also working together. They have a whole department that helps people around our state write grants, and that’s from partnership from both of those universities. Our health care facilities are starting to share and partner on training, on clinics, which not only helps the people that live here, it gives them more access to better health care.

So you look at the entities that are already here, that are now starting to share and talk with each other. Then you look at how our mayors could get together and more elected officials could work together better. I hope this will continue. People want to work together, and they want to find other people that think like them, and they are everywhere throughout the region.

Tate: There will be a change in the White House. Will the commission not be able to continue some of the work it’s done during the current administration?

Manchin: Oh, absolutely. But I think that’s always true. You know, at the end of one term and another, a new president comes in, then I think things are always in question. But I have told all 13 states this funding that we’ve had during these three and a half years, it’s not likely to continue. Things will change. And that’s the reason it was so important to take advantage of this opportunity while it was here. Not say, ‘Well, we can do that later, or we’ll wait till next year.’ We can’t do that, because there very likely will be changes, and there may be other opportunities, but I don’t think it’ll be the same opportunities.

Tate: The commission was created in 1965, and its role has changed over time. What do you see as its role in the future?

Manchin: I think that it’ll still be very important. The good thing is, governors care about their states, and if all of your state is not doing well, then that’s a problem. And so you look at West Virginia. Now, our whole state is a part of the Appalachian region. But take the state of Kentucky. Eastern Kentucky is ARC country. Western Kentucky is bluegrass, horse racing, so two very different climates within one state. So as governor, if either one of those parts of your state is not doing well, it affects the whole state.

I think governors who just have counties of their state as part of the ARC still understand the importance of the better the Appalachian region does, the better their state does. I hope that we continue to send that message, that if all of our, if our whole Appalachian region does better, we’re going to have 13 states that are doing better.

WVU Fires Coach Neal Brown After Going 37-35 In Six Seasons

West Virginia University has fired football coach Neal Brown as the Mountaineers continue to flounder in the Big 12. Athletic director Wren Baker announced Brown’s firing in a statement Sunday. Brown went 6-6 this season and had an overall record of 37-35 in his six seasons leading the Mountaineers.

West Virginia University (WVU) fired coach Neal Brown on Sunday as the Mountaineers continue to flounder in the Big 12, finishing the season 6-6.

Athletic director Wren Baker announced the firing in a statement, wishing Brown and his family “the very best in their next endeavor.”

Brown had an overall record of 37-35 in his six seasons leading the Mountaineers. His teams never competed for a Big 12 championship or were ranked in the AP Top 25 poll. They lost nine consecutive times to ranked opponents.

Brown is due to receive a $9.5 million buyout for the last three years of his contract.

Baker’s statement didn’t indicate who will coach the Mountaineers in their bowl game. West Virginia will learn its bowl opponent next weekend.

Brown had been fighting to keep his job for quite some time.

In November 2022, following back-to-back losing seasons, Brown was retained on the same day that Baker was hired as West Virginia’s AD. A year ago, Baker issued a similar vote of confidence as his predecessor, then gave Brown a contract extension in March following a 9-4 finish.

But a return to mediocrity and mounting problems were too much for Brown to overcome.

West Virginia’s offensive production suffered significantly despite returning dual-threat quarterback Garrett Greene and running backs Jahiem White and C.J. Donaldson. The defense was one of the worst nationally in passing yards allowed. West Virginia lost four times at home this season and was outscored in the second half in 10 of 12 games.

Brown had the worst six-year stretch under one coach at West Virginia since Gene Corum went 29-30 from 1960-65. Except Brown’s teams showed flashes of brilliance one week, then stumbled the next. The Mountaineers were especially vulnerable on the road, going 13-20 with 11 losses by at least 17 points. Brown also went 1-2 against rival Pittsburgh.

“Our record at the end wasn’t what we’d hoped for,” Brown said after a 52-15 loss at Texas Tech on Saturday. “I thought that over the course of the year, there were times when people were counting us out and our guys bounced back and did some good things.”

After a home loss to Iowa State, fans became especially agitated when Brown was asked to explain why they should keep showing up to games.

“I get that they want to win, but what I would say is, did they have a good time?” he said. “You know what I mean? Like, did they enjoy it? It was a pretty good atmosphere.”

He acknowledged later that he could have answered the question better and simply asked fans to come support the team.

Instead, billboards calling for Brown’s firing went up in Morgantown. Brown fired defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley on Oct. 29 after the defense gave up 45 points to Kansas State and surrendered a pair of touchdown passes in blown coverage in a 31-26 win at Arizona. In Jeff Koonz’s first game as interim defensive coordinator, West Virginia beat Cincinnati on the road, then lost two of its final three games.

West Virginia hasn’t won a league title since 2011, which was the last of its six Big East championships over a nine-year period before moving to the Big 12 in 2012.

The 44-year-old Brown was in his first major-college head coaching job after leading Troy to a 35-16 record over four seasons, including the 2017 Sun Belt championship.

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Morel Mushrooms, River Music And A Pumpkin Drop, Inside Appalachia

Morel mushrooms are a forager’s delight, but don’t shortcut cleaning them.

As flood relief continues from Hurricane Helene — a musician raises money with a song inspired by West Virginia’s 2016 floods.

And, not every pumpkin gets to be a jack-o-lantern. Some are used in science experiments instead.

In This Episode:

More About Morels
Raising Flood Relief With A River Song
Smashing Pumpkins For Science!

More About Morels

A morel sliced lengthwise will resemble a gutted fish. Note its characteristic hollow stem, a final safety check on whether you have a true morel, and the reason for its nickname of “dry land fish.” Also note that unclean morels can house ants as well as snails. *Courtesy Adam Boring.*

Every spring, morel hunters head to the woods in search of mushrooms that look like little wrinkled Christmas trees. Some folks freeze them for later. And even add them to their holiday menus.

Folkways reporter Wendy Welch spoke with foragers and chefs in Virginia about how to safely harvest and prepare these beloved fungi.

Raising Flood Relief With A River Song

Four months after Haddox appeared on stage at the Southeast Regional Folk Alliance festival in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Hurricane Helene tore through the conference location, where recovery efforts are ongoing. Courtesy Chris Haddox.

In 2016, torrential rains resulted in one of the deadliest floods in West Virginia. It inspired songwriter Chris Haddox, called “O, This River.”

Since Hurricane Helene, Haddox has been using that song to raise money for people in North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene.

Folkways reporter Connie Bailey Kitts spoke with him about the story behind the song.

Smashing Pumpkins For Science!

The crowd looks on at a package with a parachute falls to the ground at the 35th Annual WVU Pumpkin Drop Oct. 25, 2024. *Photo Chris Schulz.*

Mason: Just because Halloween is over, doesn’t mean pumpkin season is done. At West Virginia University, the big orange gourds are part of an annual challenge that takes a lot of guts –pumpkin guts.

WVPB’s Chris Schulz had more.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Christian Lopez, The Appalachian Road Show, Tim Bing, Caleb Caudle, Chris Haddox and John Inghram.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Nicole Musgrave.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.