Record number of illegal immigrants deported from US

Record number of illegal immigrants deported from US

2010-10-07 06:27:32 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON D.C. (BNO NEWS) – U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano on Wednesday announced the record-breaking immigration enforcement statistics achieved under the Obama Administration.

"Our approach has yielded historic results, removing more convicted criminal aliens than ever before and issuing more financial sanctions on employers who knowingly and repeatedly violate immigration laws than during the entire previous administration," the DHS Secretary said.

ICE Director Morton added that the record-breaking numbers were the result of strong, sensible enforcement programs and priorities. He remarked the strong commitment and dedication showed by thousands of ICE agents and officers.

In fiscal year 2010, ICE set a record for overall removals of illegal aliens, with more than 392,000 removals nationwide. Approximately half of them, around 195,000, were convicted criminals. These statistics represent an increase of over 23,000 alien removals overall and 81,000 of criminal convicts.

The increase was also in part possible due to the expansion of the Secure Communities initiative by the DHS. Such initiative uses biometric information and services to identify and remove criminal aliens in state prisons and jails. This year, more than 59,000 convicted criminal aliens were arrested thanks to the Secure Communities.

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