Immigration workplace efforts may shift to border
EILEEN SULLIVAN and DEVLIN BARRETT
Originally published 10:56 a.m., March 18, 2009, updated 09:59 a.m., March 18, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration may shift tens of millions of dollars for enforcing workplace immigration laws to fighting Mexican drug cartels.

An official familiar with the plan said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is considering asking Congress for approval to take more than $30 million from a program to investigate employers complicit in hiring illegal immigrants.

If Congress agreed, the money would be used to fight cartel-related violence.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the request has not yet been made to Congress.

ICE is also considering send more than 90 more officers to the border, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is hiring 37 people to target gunrunners.



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