I'm going to have more later on Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano apparently confirming that local jurisdictions can't opt out of the Secure Communities program; for now I just want to note the numbers DHS and ICE touted at today's press conference:
In fiscal year 2010, ICE set a record for overall removals of illegal aliens, with more than 392,000 removals nationwide. Half of those removed—more than 195,000—were convicted criminals. The fiscal year 2010 statistics represent increases of more than 23,000 removals overall and 81,000 criminal removals compared to fiscal year 2008—a more than 70 percent increase in removal of criminal aliens from the previous administration.
[...]
Since January 2009, ICE has audited more than 3,200 employers suspected of hiring illegal labor, debarred 225 companies and individuals, and imposed approximately $50 million in financial sanctions—more than the total amount of audits and debarments than during the entire previous administration.
According to ICE head John Morton, that number is right up against the number of people ICE is capable of deporting in a given year. He recently told USA Today that "Congress provides enough money to deport a little less than 400,000 people." They're about 8,000 people short of that. and they've got more than two months left.
This is the administration Republicans are accusing of refusing to enforce immigration laws.
