Administration Announces Stepped-Up Immigration Enforcement By CQ Staff
Fri Aug 10, 1:45 PM ET



By Michael Sandler, CQ Staff

Having lost the broader immigration debate on Capitol Hill, the Bush administration took steps Friday to show conservative Republicans that it is serious about border security and enforcement of existing immigration laws.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez unveiled a plan that highlights more than two dozen steps the administration has taken or intends to pursue in the months ahead. Much of the announcement focused on policies already on the books or in progress, such as adding border agents and detention beds, and ending a policy that involved releasing illegal immigrants with a notice to appear before a judge — which many ignored.

Chertoff did announce some new policies, however, including one that would target employers who ignore notices from the federal government that they have employees with questionable documentation.

Homeland Security agents will now be informed when the Social Security Administration sends a “no-matchâ€