Federal authorities have identified more than 111,000 immigrants with criminal records being held in local jails, during the first year of a program that seeks to deport immigrants who have committed serious crimes.
Among the immigrants identified through the program, known as Secure Communities, more than 11,000 had been charged with or convicted of the most serious crimes, including murder and rape, domestic security officials said Thursday.
About 1,900 of those have been deported.
At a news conference in Washington, John Morton, the top official at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, called the program "the future of immigration enforcement," because, he said, it "focuses our resources on identifying and removing the most serious criminal offenders first and foremost."
About 100,000 of the detained immigrants identified through the system had been convicted of less serious crimes, ranging from burglary to traffic offenses, the officials said. Of those, more than 14,000 have been deported.
Obama administration officials have worked to distinguish their immigration enforcement strategy from the Bush administration's, which centered on high-profile factory raids and searches in communities for immigration fugitives.
The Bush operations drew an outcry from immigrant advocates, who said they led to racial profiling, especially of Latinos, and ensnared many immigrants who lacked legal status but had not committed crimes.
From the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, and no word on whether the submarine was yellow or not:
The Coast Guard cutter Jarvis returns home today after seizing 5 tons of narcotics last month from a small submarine off the coast of Central America.
The Coast Guard said the drug seizure occurred Oct. 21 after a U.S. Customs and Border Protection maritime patrol aircraft detected the submersible in international waters in the Eastern Pacific off the coast of Central America.
The Jarvis, already patrolling in the area, intercepted the submersible, boarded the vessel, and found that it was loaded with 5 tons of narcotics. The crew of the Jarvis seized the vessel and detained the four crewmembers.
The seized vessel, cargo and crew were taken to Guatemala. Initial field tests indicated the presence of cocaine, heroin and possibly other substances.
From Government Executive, on veterans hiring:
Senior Obama administration officials on Thursday offered details on how agencies will follow up on the president's new directive to boost employment of veterans.
Implementation of the Nov. 9 executive order will begin at Cabinet-level and large independent agencies, said Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry, during a press conference in Washington. But eventually every agency likely will designate a veterans employment liaison, he said.
These officials and OPM will educate former service members on job opportunities, help them determine which openings are the best match for their skills and career goals, and mentor them to help them adjust to the differences between military and civilian culture, said Scott Gould, deputy secretary at the Veterans Affairs Department.
Targeting veterans makes sense, since service members already have demonstrated the talents that make good civil service employees, he noted.
Leadership Events
9 AM EST
Secretary Napolitano will deliver remarks about the Obama administration’s efforts to reform the U.S. immigration system
1333 H Street NW, 10th Floor
Washington, D.C.
1:30 PM EST
Secretary Napolitano will deliver remarks highlighting the importance of protecting privacy and civil liberties when sharing information with international and domestic partners
Renaissance Washington Hotel
Renaissance Ballroom, Ballroom Level
999 9th Street NW
Washington, D.C.
Public Events
8 AM EST
NPPD Director of Critical Infrastructure Cyber Protection and Awareness Jenny Menna will participate in a panel discussion about government and private sector collaboration on national cybersecurity initiatives at the 10th Annual Security Conference and Exhibition
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.
11:30 AM CST
USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas will participate in a media availability about his vision for the agency and current initiatives
USCIS District Office
126 Northpoint
Houston, Texas
3:30 PM EST
NPPD Deputy Under Secretary Philip Reitinger will participate in a panel discussion about cybersecurity and cyber warfare at the 19th Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law Conference
Renaissance Washington
Renaissance Ballroom 999 9th Street, NW
Washington, D.C.