In a trial run of a politically divisive program, U.S. prosecutors in Denver and Baltimore are reviewing thousands of deportation cases to determine which illegal immigrants might stay in the country - perhaps indefinitely - so officials can reduce a huge backlog by focusing mainly on detainees with criminal backgrounds or who are deemed threats to national security.... or are (illegally) registered as Republicans.
Federal deportation hearings for noncriminal defendants released from custody were suspended Dec. 5 for the review and resume this week. Similar reviews are planned across the country to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to focus deportations of illegal immigrants on those with criminal records or those who have been deported previously.
While the immigration courtrooms in Denver have fallen silent, prosecutors had time to examine case files and check residency histories - such as whether someone was brought to the country as a child - as well as whether suspects had a criminal history.
Officials have not released information on how many cases will be placed on low priority based on the review. When theyÂ’re finished, cases of those who are here illegally but not deemed a threat to public safety or national security will be placed on administrative hold and the numbers will be released.
Citing tight budgets, Homeland Security Secretary Janet A. Napolitano announced this summer that nearly 300,000 deportation cases would be reviewed to determine which could be closed through “prosecutorial discretion.” Republicans have decried the policy as a backdoor way of granting amnesty to people who are living in the U.S. illegally.
