Aug 16, 2010

Report: Deportations increase, with focus on violent criminals

06:24 PM

The Charlotte Observer reports that the Obama administration has increased deportation of illegal immigrants, focusing on those accused or convicted of violent crimes.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it is on track to deport a record 400,000 people this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, including are an estimated 150,000 convicted criminals.

Tops on ICE's deportation list are those convicted of murder, rape, assault and major drug offenses.

The Observer writes:

Last year, nearly 390,000 illegal immigrants were removed. Critics of the ongoing deportation program say the numbers tell only part of the story. Despite the focus on violent criminals, the majority of the removals handled by ICE still are noncriminals or immigrants accused of lesser infractions such as traffic violations and misdemeanors.

Just 16 percent of immigrants removed this fiscal year are the top- priority, violent criminals known as "Level 1" immigrants, according to data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

More than 50 percent of those removed this fiscal year are considered noncriminal.
--------------------------------------------------------
Post comments @

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... riminals/1