10-year high in prosecution of criminal immigrants – via @sacbee

by jaredwestfall on Dec.23, 2009, under Randomness

FRESNO, Calif. — Federal officials say the number of cases filed in Northern California against illegal immigrants with criminal records is at a 10-year high.

Authorities in the Eastern District, which covers inland areas from Bakersfield to the Oregon border, announced Wednesday that 414 illegal immigrants were prosecuted this past fiscal year. Nearly all of the cases involved illegal re-entry to the United States.

They say that’s a 45-percent increase over the previous fiscal year, and a 130-percent increase over 2007.

Immigration Customs and Enforcement officials say this effort is part of a push to target suspected illegal immigrants with criminal records. Most of the defendants had previously served prison time for aggravated felonies in this country.

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