Report says government spent $18 billion on immigration enforcement in 2012
Critics likely to bristle over report findings
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer checks the IDs of visitors entering the United States from Mexico at the border crossing.
(Photo courtesy: John Moore/Getty)
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Posted: 01/07/2013
Last Updated:
135 days ago
WASHINGTON - A report on immigration enforcement from a Washington think tank says the Obama administration spent more money on enforcement efforts in the last fiscal year than all other federal law enforcement agencies combined.
The report from the non-partisan Migration Policy Institute says in the 2012 budget year that ended in September, the government spent about $18 billion on immigration enforcement programs run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the US-Visit program, and Customs and Border Protection, which includes the Border Patrol. All other federal law enforcement, including the FBI, spent a combined $14.4 billion.
The 182-page report concludes that the Obama administration has made immigration its highest law enforcement priority. Critics are likely to bristle over its findings, especially those who have accused the administration of being soft on immigration violators.
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