(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Washington, February 21 (QNA) - The U.S. Homeland Security Department on Tuesday revealed new policy guidelines for deporting undocumented immigrants, expanding the number of people who can be deported while accelerating the process for returning them to their home country.
The new guidelines reflect the crackdown on undocumented immigrants promised during President Donald Trump's presidential campaign and put forward in an executive order the president signed last month.
During the administration of President Barack Obama, only undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes were deported. Under the new policy, those who have committed any offense, including fraudulently taking advantage of social welfare benefits, will be subject to deportation.
They will also be deported more quickly than before. Under Obama, immediate deportations were only made on individuals found within 100 miles of a border and who were in the U.S. only 14 days or less.
Under the Trump orders, any undocumented immigrant can be deported from anywhere in the country who has been in the U.S. for up to two years.
There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Targeting them all will require the hiring of 10,000 new customs and immigration agents as well as building new detention facilities. (QNA)
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