Federal immigration prosecutions jump in NM

Federal immigration prosecutions in New Mexico posted the biggest percentage increase of any of the nation's 94 judicial districts during the first 11 months of the federal fiscal year, a new report shows. Prosecutions in the state's federal judicial district jumped by 46 percent from the previous period. The state is on pace to post its highest number of immigration prosecutions since tracking began in 1986. Meanwhile, prosecutions fell in Arizona by 22 percent and by 13 percent in the Southern District of California. There were 5,999 prosecutions in New Mexico through the end of August. The federal fiscal year ended Oct. 1. Clearinghouse co-director Sue Long told the Santa Fe New Mexican in a story Wednesday that prosecutions were up nationally but she was surprised by the big increase in New Mexico. "What was surprising was how different the patterns were . particularly in New Mexico because it had been declining for years and then it shot up," Long said. New Mexico ranked fourth overall in total immigration prosecutions, behind the Southern District of Texas (Houston) with 31,000, the Western District of Texas (San Antonio) with 22,970, and Arizona with 21,000, according to the report...more