Posted on 12/25/2012 8:55:35 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Although President Obama supports setting a path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants, his administration deported a record 1.5 million of them in his first term.
In addition, the latest data released by the government in recent days show that an unprecedented 409,849 people were deported for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.
The increase from the previous year occurred despite policy changes ordered by Obama to reduce the deportations of otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants.
Roughly 55 percent, or more than 225,000 people, deported in the past year were convicted of crimes such as drug offenses and driving under the influence. Immigration officials note that they deported nearly twice as many convicted criminals as in the year before Obama took office. That year, in 2008, criminals made up about a third of all deportations.
The administration says the figures demonstrate that the shift in enforcement to focus on criminals is working.
Priority cases include felons, repeat violators of immigration laws, people who have recently crossed U.S. borders illegally and those who pose a national security threat, the White House says.
But immigrant advocates, including Latino politicians and civil rights groups, criticized the figures as evidence that Obama's policy changes don't sufficiently protect unintended targets.
"This is nothing to be proud of," Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., said in a statement. "In the 409,849 deportations are hardened criminals for whom I have no sympathy, but we must also realize that among these ... are parents and breadwinners ... that are assets to American communities and have committed no crimes."
Some 90,000 people in this category are deported every year, Gutierrez estimates.
Gutierrez and others say the best solution remains the passage of comprehensive immigration reform, which could be taken up by the new Congress early next year.
In an announcement that appears to address the criticism, U.S. Immigration and Enforcement Director John Morton has ordered his agents to focus solely on "serious offenders." Agents won't pursue illegal immigrants convicted of one or two minor misdemeanors, such as traffic violations, he said.
The new directive limits the use of "detainers," an enforcement tool that critics say has too often been used to nab people who pose no public safety or national security threat.
From Morton's statement:
"While the FY 2012 removals indicate that we continue to make progress in focusing resources on criminal and priority aliens, with more convicted criminals being removed from the country than ever before, we are constantly looking for ways to ensure that we are doing everything we can to utilize our resources in a way that maximizes public safety."
The biggest change under Obama has been his deferred deportation program, which gives qualified young people brought to the U.S. as children a renewable two-year reprieve. Since the program began in August, applications from more than 355,000 people have been accepted and nearly 103,000 have been approved, according to the latest government figures.
How did Zer0 miss Piers Morgan?
The same way he missed his welfare queen Aunt and Drunken Uncle.
But allowed MILLIONS to come as they please.
This phrase has always amused me: “otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants.”
Why don’t we hear of other otherwise law-abiding criminals?? Otherwise law abiding bank robbers and the like? Are there laws or aren’t there?
Is there anyone stupid enough to believe either the Obama Administration or NPR?
95% of these deportations are Mexicans who are caught at the border, arrested, gaveled through a quickie court process and sent right back to Mexico. Also in this 95% are people who do obey deportation orders, get on an airplane and leave.
5% or less are people the Federales put on on a airplane and send back home. Physically deporting Mexicans is easier. You just throw them across the bridge
1.49 million of those deported are already back in this country.
how many Islamicist/Hezbellah/Hamas/AlQuaida/MoslemBrothers immigrants has he deported?
A closer look will show that he spend $100,000,000,000 deporting the same 100,000 people 15 times each. I believe they get rides across the southern border to make it “harder” to “Sneak” back in. This man really knows how to have it both ways.
Anybody out there in internet-land BELIEVE this sh*t?
‘Thought so. Me neither.
Isn’t it wonderful how statistics are managed?
I’m around a good number of mexicans or illegals and I haven’t heard them talk about anyone being deported.
Only America with our Dems and Republicans would continue to allow this invasion. A criminals invade our country and 'we' do nothing.
Interesting spin, Ms. Gutierrez.
The almost 500,000 of the deportees contains ~90,000 “contributors to society.” So ~80% are non-contributors or criminals.
I like those odds.
That having been said, I don’t believe a word of their BS.
The question is, “How did he know which ones wouldn’t vote for him and needed to go?”.
None his relatives I bet.
But, what has he done with the 1.3 million of them who sneaked back into the country!??
That’s what happens when Obama’s policies make the economy so bad. Turn yourself in, get a ride home via the US Gov.
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