U.S. expedites deportation of criminals

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is stepping up efforts to deport some 200,000 immigrants now in U.S. prisons, The New York Times reported.

Julie Myers, head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told the Times the push is to reduce costs for federal, state and county prisons.

Last year, ICE issued deportation orders for about 164,000 jailed immigrants, many of whom will be freed and deported this year, she said. In 2006, that number was 64,000, the report said.

Myers said as many as 200,000 deportations were expected to be ordered this year.

The deportation effort won't come without problems, as she told the Times the larger numbers would put a strain on ICE detention centers and Justice Department aircraft used for deportations.

She said this year would also bring a crackdown and more criminal prosecutions of employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, the newspaper said.