o Federal court in Del Rio, Texas, is just three miles from Mexican border and deals with stream of illegal immigrants

o Get-tough policy puts them in front of judge at the courthouse - who tells them a guilty plea for illegal crossing means jail time

o Jailing them federal magistrate Collis White says: 'If you can find a legal way to come back, you're more than welcome. But it has to be just that.'

o In other jurisdictions around the country offenders are usually allowed to skip criminal charges in return for quick deportation

o But attorney general says illegal border crossers will now be arrested, prosecuted and then deported - like happens in Del Rio

o Half of all federal prosecutions are already related to immigration