Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY
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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 12 april 2017
During border visit, Sessions outlines immigration plan
ASTRID GALVAN federal prosecutors to in- illegally in the country with
Associated Press tensify their focus on im- felony identity theft and
NOGALES, Ariz. (AP) — At- migration crimes such document fraud.
torney General Jeff Ses- as illegal border crossing “This is a new era. This is the
sions toured the U.S.-Mexi- or smuggling others into Trump era,” he said. “The
co border Tuesday and un- the U.S. lawlessness, the abdication
veiled what he described Such prosecutions are al- of the duty to enforce our
as a new get-tough ap- ready happening on a immigration laws, and the
proach to immigration large scale. They made up catch and release prac-
prosecutions under Presi- more than half of all fed- tices of old are over.”
dent Donald Trump. eral prosecutions in fiscal Critics blasted the initiatives
The nation’s top law en- year 2016, according to announced by Sessions as
forcement official outlined the Transactional Records fear-mongering and anti-
a series of changes that Access Clearinghouse at immigrant rhetoric not root-
he said mark the start of Attorney General Jeff Sessions arrives for a news conference af- Syracuse University. But ed in facts.
a new push to rid Ameri- ter touring the U.S.-Mexico border with border officials, Tuesday, prosecutions were slightly “Once again, Attorney
can cities and the border April 11, 2017, in Nogales, Ariz. Sessions announced making im- down from fiscal year 2015. General Sessions is scaring
of what he described as migration enforcement a key Justice Department priority, say- In a three-page memo, the public by linking immi-
“filth” brought on by drug ing he will speed up deportations of immigrants in the country Sessions told U.S. attorneys grants to criminals despite
cartels and criminal orga- illegally who were convicted of federal crimes. to prioritize immigration studies showing that im-
nizations. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) prosecutions by appointing migrants commit crimes at
The tour included visit- stricted area. Trump administration, but a border security coordi- lower rates than the na-
ing a port of entry, where Sessions has been steadily the border trip offered the nator who can oversee in- tive born,” said Gregory
Sessions exited an SUV in expanding the Justice De- most comprehensive look vestigations, keep statistics Z. Chen, director of gov-
a white shirt and baseball partment’s role in the anti- yet at his plans. and provide legal advice ernment relations for the
cap before entering a re- immigration agenda of the During his visit, he urged and training to prosecutors. American Immigration
The coordinators would Lawyers Association.
meet regularly with federal Sessions made the an-
immigration authorities. nouncement in Nogales,
In addition, Sessions said a border city that has wit-
federal prosecutors must nessed a dramatic drop
consider bringing felony in immigrant and drug
charges against those who smuggling in recent years
have illegally entered the as more people enter the
country more than once country in Texas, many of
as well as those who marry them Central Americans
to evade immigration laws. fleeing violence in Gua-
He also urged prosecutors temala, Honduras and El
to consider charging those Salvador.q
Alabama’s new governor is
no stranger to state politics
KIM CHANDLER ing, but you don’t tell Kay
ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE anything,” Former Republi-
Associated Press can Party Chairman Marty
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Connors responded when
Within a span of minutes, asked if party powerbro-
Alabama’s lieutenant gov- kers told her to switch to the
ernor catapulted from a lower ballot race in 2010.
position of largely ceremo- “She tells you exactly what
nial duties to the state’s top is on her mind. She pulls no
political job. But new Re- punches. That’s why I trust
publican Gov. Kay Ivey has her.”
decades of experience After she was sworn in Mon-
working in, and around, day, the 72-year-old Ivey
state politics. called it a dark day in Ala-
She held two terms as state bama but one of opportu-
treasurer and ran for gov- nity.
ernor in 2010, entering a
crowded GOP primary field “I ask for your help and
that included ex-Gov. Rob- patience as we together
ert Bentley, who resigned steady the ship of state
Monday rather face im- and improve Alabama’s
peachment hearings. Ivey image,” she said.
dropped out of the race Ivey grew up in Wilcox
that Bentley eventually County, the same rural
won, and she was victori- area where U.S. Attorney
ous in her bid for lieutenant General Jeff Sessions was
governor that year. raised, and the two attend-
“Not to be overly flatter- ed high school together.q
