TUCSON, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. government is considering a measure that would prosecute every adult caught crossing the border illegally from Mexico to Arizona.
The policy, known as Operation Streamline, is already in effect for the area surrounding Yuma, Ariz., as well as the Del Rio area in Texas. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is now considering spreading the program to the Tucson area, which contains the busiest route for human smuggling over the border, The Arizona Republic reported Monday.
The expansion of the program would involve four Homeland Security lawyers sent to assist acting Arizona U.S. Attorney Dan Knauss with Streamline cases.
"These are serious discussions. You need to get cooperation of a number of parties," Knauss said. "We still need judges, defense counsel and prison space."
The U.S. Border Patrol in Del Rio has referred 23,000 cases for prosecution since the policy was instituted in December 2005. Convictions and deportations resulted from about 22,000 of the cases.
