Border apprehensions down 36 percent, says CBP

The Associated Press reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the number of illegally present immigrants apprehended in 2010 fell by 36 percent from the previous year.  CBP also said it seized over 2,000 tons of narcotics.

http://www.chron.com/disp/sory.mpl/ap/tx/7443206.html

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ICE announces more audits of hiring records

The Packer reports that ICE issued a notice of inspection to one thousand employers across the country, alerting those businesses that ICE will be inspecting their hiring records.  Rather than targeting a specific industry, ICE said this latest round of audits will include a broad spectrum of employers across all fifty states. 

http://thepacker.com/ICE-announces-more-audits-of-hiring-records/Article.aspx?oid=1308497&fid=PACKER-TOP-STORIES&aid=117

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U.S. arrests 678 with foreign drug-trafficking ties

Bloomberg News reports that a coordinated effort by federal and local law enforcement authorities in 168 U.S. cities led to the arrest of 678 gang members and associates linked to 13 Mexican drug organizations.  In addition, 164 individuals were arrested for criminal and administrative immigration violations.  The crackdown by ICE, known as Project Southern Tempest, lasted from December to February and led to the seizure of more than $4 million.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fg%2Fa%2F2011%2F02%2F28%2Fbloomberg1376-LHE2IN1A1I4H01-5TU77H25AD38N53NPLEJ6P4IFC.DTL

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ICE outlines civil immigration enforcement priorities

ICE issued a memorandum outlining its priorities for the apprehension, detention, and removal of aliens.  Noting that ICE only has resources to remove approximately 4 percent of illegally present immigrants in the United States each year, the memorandum included a priority list to ensure that removals promote the agency’s overall goals of national security, public safety, and border security:

1. Aliens who pose a danger to national security or a risk to public safety
2. Recent illegal entrants
3. Aliens who are fugitives or otherwise obstruct immigration controls

In addition, the memorandum stressed that ICE field office directors should not expend detention resources on aliens who are suffering from physical or mental illness, are disabled, elderly, pregnant or nursing, or are the primary caretaker of children or an infirm person.

http://www.ice.gov/doclib/news/releases/2011/110302washingtondc.pdf

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