The United States sent 86 Mexican citizens serving criminal sentences back to Mexico Friday in exchange for 11 U.S. citizens from Mexican prisons. Both groups will serve out their sentences in their native lands.
Announcing the exchange, Attorney General Janet Reno said the prisoner transfer program "makes more prison space available in the United States and permits prisoners to be near their families and friends" in both countries.She said Friday's exchange would save U.S. taxpayers more than $250,000 a year and the program ultimately could save millions of dollars spent on sup-port-ing prisoners here. Eight thousand Mexicans in federal prisons are being reviewed for possible transfer, along with 334 U.S. citizens in Mexican prisons.
It was the second prisoner transfer since Reno visited Mexico last year and agreed with her Mexican counterpart to step up the pace.