WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been dropping efforts to deport illegal immigrants who appear to pose no threat, officials say.
Richard Rocha, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told The Houston Chronicle the agency has to make choices. That means going after criminals and people with suspected terrorist ties.
"Our agency focuses our limited resources on criminal aliens and those who are considered national security and public safety threats," Rocha said Tuesday.
In an Aug. 20 memo given to the Chronicle, John Morton, assistant secretary for ICE, said agents should examine the cases of potential deportees based on whether they have a close relationship to a U.S. citizen. In an earlier memo, dated June 30, Morton said the department has the resources to deport 400,000 people a year, which is about 4 percent of the estimated population of illegal immigrants.
While immigration lawyers welcome the change, critics say President Obama reneged on a promise for immigration reform.
"They've made clear that they have no interest in enforcing immigration laws against people who are not convicted criminals," Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, told the Chronicle.
