Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Feds Triple Cases Against Illegals

Immigrants account for half of prosecutions; critics question White House priorities

By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 18, 2008 12:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Prosecutions of illegal immigrants have soared in recent months, now accounting for half of all federal cases, the Los Angeles Times reports. Some 9,350 illegal immigrants faced federal charges in March of this year, up from 3,746 in March 2007, as the Bush administration ratcheted up efforts to use jail time, and the prospect of a criminal record, as a tactic to dissuade illegal border crossers.

"The results of this criminal prosecution initiative have been striking," says Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, whose department is still beefing up staff along the border to boost the effort. But with jail sentences averaging about a month, critics assert valuable federal resources are being wasted. "Immigration cases are dominating the federal court system these days," one researcher says. "The volume of cases is really huge." 

Harris County Sheriffs units are parked across the street from a large Shipley Do-Nuts facility on Houston's north side that was raided Wednesday, April 16, 2008.
Harris County Sheriffs units are parked across the street from a large Shipley Do-Nuts facility on Houston's north side that was raided Wednesday, April 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle,Julio Cortez)
U.S. Marshals Service officers watch as 40 suspected illegal immigrants are taken into U.S. District Court on Feb. 26, 2007, in Tucson, Ariz.
U.S. Marshals Service officers watch as 40 suspected illegal immigrants are taken into U.S. District Court on Feb. 26, 2007, in Tucson, Ariz.   (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
A legal resident, has decided to move his now flagging business to Utah, months after Prince William County passed policies cracking down on illegal immigrants.
A legal resident, has decided to move his now flagging business to Utah, months after Prince William County passed policies cracking down on illegal immigrants.   (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

US Border Fence Extending 300 Feet Into Pacific

Arizona: Please Donate to Help Build Border Fence

GOP to Obama: Step Up Immigration Raids

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's a Cowboy; Obama's a Pansy

Obama Deporting More Illegals Than Bush


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne