Donald Trump closes net on illegal immigrants

  • 22/02/2017
Donald Trump
(Getty)

Things could get a lot tougher in the United States for immigrants after new rules have been revealed directing the removal of any migrant convicted of any criminal offence. 

The US Department of Homeland Security made the new policies based on President Donald Trump's executive orders.

Under President Obama, undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes were prioritised for deportation, but now Border Patrol and Immigration agents will be able to deport many more people immediately, the New York Times reports.

Who could be deported?

  • An estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the US
  • A convicted immigrant anywhere in the US (under Obama it was only 100 miles from the border)
  • Immigrants who've been in the US up to two years (under Obama it was up to two weeks).

Who'll do the deporting?

  • The Homeland Security documents direct the hiring of 10,000 new Immigration and Customs agents
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with Customs and Border Protection, could recruit local police officers and sheriff's deputies to help with deportation, making them de facto immigration agents

Officials told local media the Department of Homeland Security intends to aggressively follow Mr Trump's promises on strict immigration laws.

Newshub.