Feds:122 convicted criminals freed in Arizona
Web Producer: Taylor Higgins
PHOENIX (AP) - More than one-third of the 342 illegal immigrants released from federal custody in Arizona because of budget cuts are classified as convicted criminals.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials confirmed the numbers Friday. They were reported by the Arizona Republic and the Arizona Daily Star.
The Associated Press reported March 1 that more than 2,000 immigrants had been released nationwide during the previous month.
It wasn't until this week that the Obama administration acknowledged that it had, in fact, released 2,228 people from immigration jails over the course of three weeks in February. Four of the most serious offenders are back in detention.
In Arizona, one of those released is a serious offender but is not among those put back in custody.
Gov. Jan Brewer's office has been seeking criminal profiles for those immigrants who were released.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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