Democrats Blast GOP Bill that Cracks Down on Delayed Deportations for Non-Criminals

By Elizabeth Llorente
Published July 15, 2011

A legislative proposal in Congress backed by Republicans would dramatically limit the circumstances for delaying deportation.

The measure, known as the HALT Act and introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith and Sen. David Vitter, seeks to suspend until January of 2013 the discretion of the president to prioritize the deportation of some people, or classes of people, over others.

Smith, a Texas Republican who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the impetus for the bill was a series of directives by Obama Administration officials urging “prosecutorial discretionâ€