In a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee held Tuesday, ICE Director John Morton revealed that in the wake of sequestration-related budget cuts, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released 2,228 suspected undocumented immigrants from detention facilities in the past month. Of these, 342 were released in Arizona. Those set free from detention included largely low risk individuals with no serious criminal records. However, Morton stated that the agency did release some individuals with criminal pasts, including a handful of “Level 1” offenders. Level 1 is the most serious category of criminal offenders within the immigration detention system. Morton stated that those released who had criminal backgrounds had mostly been charged with traffic violations, DUIs and financial crimes.
In the wake of sequestration-related budget cuts, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released 2,228 suspected undocumented immigrants from detention facilities in the past month. Of these, 342 were released in Arizona. Those set free from detention included largely low risk individuals with no serious criminal records. However, ICE has stated that the agency did release some individuals with criminal pasts, including a handful of “Level 1” offenders. Level 1 is the most serious category of criminal offenders within the immigration detention system. ICE Director John Morton stated that those released who had criminal backgrounds had mostly been charged with traffic violations, DUIs and financial crimes.
In Arizona, just one of the 342 suspected undocumented immigrants who was released was a Level 1 offender: a 68-year old Bolivian man who had been convicted of multiple misdemeanors for drug distribution and theft. A legal U.S. resident for 45 years, the man had been deported to Bolivia in 2008 after he was convicted of these crimes. He was taken into custody by ICE after attempting readmission to the United States in December 2009. Although no longer in ICE custody, the man continues to be monitored by an ankle bracelet, and his immigration case is pending.
Under the Obama administration’s sequestration plan to reduce U.S. debt, ICE will be required to reduce its annual budget by $300 million. The release of individuals from detention facilities is just part of the agency’s attempt to meet these cuts. ICE’s current annual budget to detain approximately 30,000 suspected undocumented immigrants is $2.05 billion. Detention costs an estimated $164 per day per individual.
According to the Associated Press, ICE plans to release thousands more individuals in the next month. However, these plans are currently on hold as the agency responds to the outcries of many lawmakers who are displeased with the releases. These voices include Ariz. Gov. Jan Brewer, who referred to the releases as “political posturing” on the part of President Obama, and argued that the move weakens the nation’s immigration system.
Still, many of those angry with ICE for releasing 2,228 suspected undocumented immigrants from detention facilities were infuriated by earlier reports that thousands of criminals had been let loose on U.S. streets. The agency’s recent announcement that the large majority of these individuals have no criminal records whatsoever could potentially cool tempers on the issue. In addition, many anti-immigrant lawmakers may be somewhat succored by the fact that deportation proceedings against those released have not been canceled.
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