More Criminal Removals in San Diego

Hundreds of San Diego County jail inmates are being targeted for deportation every month now that federal authorities have posted immigration agents in local lockups. In January, when the program began, agents identified 59 illegal immigrants among local inmates. In November, that number ballooned to 845.That same month, 579 local inmates were transferred to federal officials for removal from the United States, according to federal statistics. “We can just nab them right there and get them into deportation and remove them immediately,” said Lauren Mack, spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.Before January, agents in charge of screening inmates were focused on investigations rather than deportation, Mack said.  Click here for the story.

It seems like the federal government has ramped up enforcement over the last few months, with workplace raids and a focus on removals.  Is this desined to set the stage for the 2007-08 immigration reform debate in Congress?

KJ