ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ Federal immigration officials are looking at expanding jail cells in Minnesota and other parts of the country.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has sent a request for information that identifies St. Paul and three other cities Chicago, Detroit and Salt Lake City in which the agency is looking to possibly expand detention sites.

ICE spokesman Shawn Neudauer in St. Paul says the agency does not discuss
contract negotiations.

ICE is using five county jails across Minnesota to hold people suspected of being in the U.S. illegally  Nobles, Freeborn, Sherburne, Ramsey, and Carver.

Immigration lawyer Kim Hunter says the rise in arrests of people suspected of being in the country illegally is driving ICE's request for more jail cells.

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