USICE Arresting More Immigration Fugitives
The New York Times reported today that agents from the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (USICE) who are responsible for identifying and apprehending immigrants who have ignored deportation orders, have recently been arresting more immigrants with criminal records.
Statistics from the USICE has shown that in the past 3 years, over 70% of immigrants arrested by USICE agents had no criminal histories.
About 45% of the approximately 35,000 immigrants that were arrested in FY 2009, did in fact had criminal convictions.
Earlier this year, the USICE suspended arrest quotas. Although the agency has switched gears and began to focus more on criminal aliens, USICE director John Morton said,
“This year the agency would focus on finding immigrants with criminal records or who have ignored deportation orders. However, he said other illegal immigrants would be arrested if they were present during the operations.”
Immigration enforcement is on the rise and once again, a balance between immigration enforcement and immigration reform must be reached.
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