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The Homeland Security Department released from its jails more than 2,000 illegal immigrants facing deportation in recent weeks due to looming budget cuts and planned to release 3,000 more during March, The Associated Press has learned.
The newly disclosed figures, cited in internal budget documents reviewed by the AP, are significantly higher than the "few hundred" illegal immigrants the Obama administration acknowledged this week had been released under the budget-savings process.
The government documents show that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement released roughly 1,000 illegal immigrants from its jails around the U.S. each week since at least Feb. 15. The agency's field offices have reported more than 2,000 immigrants released before intense criticism this week led to a temporary shutdown of the plan, according to the documents.
The states where immigrants were released include Arizona, California, Georgia and Texas
The White House has said it was not consulted about the releases, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has acknowledged they occurred in a manner she regrets. White House spokesman Jay Carney on Wednesday said the government had released "a few hundred" of the roughly 30,000 illegal immigrants held in federal detention pending deportation proceedings. Carney said the immigrants released were "low-risk, noncriminal detainees," and the decision was made by career ICE officials.
As of last week, the agency held an average daily population of 30,733 in its jails. The internal budget documents reviewed by the AP show the Obama administration had intended to reduce those figures to 25,748 by March 31.
The White House did not comment immediately Friday on the higher number of immigrants released.
Originally posted by intrepid
By releasing these non-violent people they are saving over 90%.
They are still up for deportation they just aren't sequestered in prison.
Carney said the immigrants released were "low-risk, noncriminal detainees," and the decision was made by career ICE officials.
*snip*
The immigrants who were released still eventually face deportation and are required to appear for upcoming court hearings. But they are no longer confined in immigration jails, where advocacy experts say they cost about $164 per day per person. Immigrants who are granted supervised release — with conditions that can include mandatory check-ins, home visits and GPS devices — cost the government from 30 cents to $14 a day, according to the National Immigration Forum, a group that advocates on behalf of immigrants.
Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who sits on the Senate panel that oversees the Department of Homeland Security, harshly criticized the administration for downplaying the number of immigrants released, adding the revelation "makes it less and less possible for lawmakers to have productive negotiations with the White House over a comprehensive immigration bill."
Originally posted by jibeho
Funny, how no one is commenting on the difference between the White house "couple of hundred" to the reality of 5,000.
The White House has said it was not consulted about the releases, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has acknowledged they occurred in a manner she regrets.
Originally posted by intrepid
Originally posted by jibeho
Funny, how no one is commenting on the difference between the White house "couple of hundred" to the reality of 5,000.
Dude, do you read your own sources?
The White House has said it was not consulted about the releases, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has acknowledged they occurred in a manner she regrets.
DHS, not the WH.
White House spokesman Jay Carney on Wednesday said the government had released "a few hundred
Originally posted by jibeho
Originally posted by intrepid
Originally posted by jibeho
Funny, how no one is commenting on the difference between the White house "couple of hundred" to the reality of 5,000.
Dude, do you read your own sources?
The White House has said it was not consulted about the releases, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has acknowledged they occurred in a manner she regrets.
DHS, not the WH.
Dude! Didn't Carney say this?
White House spokesman Jay Carney on Wednesday said the government had released "a few hundred
Carney = the official mouth piece for the White House. All in the same source
Originally posted by intrepid
Right. Now read the part of YOUR source that is in my quote. It's basic logic. He wasn't informed. Napolitano says that.
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
So.. What happened to command level people taking the fall for the utter failures of their subordinates? Janet should take a fall on this (If she really didn't know something so important, happening in her own Department) and I think Obama owes the nation at least a passing acknowledgement that accountability for action completely broke down here.