In fiscal year 2010, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed more illegal aliens than in any other period in the history of the United States. ICE removed more than 392,000 illegal aliens. Half of these deported aliens, more than 195,000, were convicted of crimes, including murder, sex offenses and drug violations.
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said that the federal government has changed their approach to immigration enforcement since the beginning of the Obama administration. Part of this approach includes implementing the ICE-led program, Secure Communities. The program is a partnership between ICE and state and local law enforcement agencies that uses biometric technology to identify aliens who have been booked into state and local jails. Once identified, these criminal aliens are processed for removal rather than released back into communities.
ICE’s worksite enforcement numbers also climbed to historic high numbers in FY 2010, with more audits of businesses than ever before, as well as increases in prosecutions of employers who repeatedly and egregiously hire illegal workers.
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