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Federal prosecutions of immigrants soared to new levels this spring, as the Obama administration continued an aggressive enforcement strategy championed under President George W. Bush, according to a new study released Thursday.
The 4,145 cases referred to federal prosecutors in March and April was the largest number for any two-month stretch since the Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agency was created five years ago, the Syracuse University-based Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse found. They ranged from
misdemeanor illegal entry to prosecutions of immigrants with criminal records.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees both investigative agencies, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on TRAC's findings.
The nonprofit academic research group obtained the latest figures from the Department of Justice under the Freedom of Information Act. That agency also
declined to comment on the findings.
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