A look at the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement immigration system, sample of payments

October 7th, 2009 Arizona sheriff's immigration deal clears hurdlePHOENIX — County officials in Arizona have approved an agreement that would let 60 county jail officers continue to check on the immigration status of jail inmates. Wednesday's 3-2 vote by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors moves Sheriff Joe Arpaio a step closer to renewing a deal that grants special federal immigration powers to jail officers.

October 6th, 2009 Feds limit Arizona sheriff's immigration powersPHOENIX — An Arizona sheriff known for aggressively cracking down on illegal immigration has been stripped of some of his special power to enforce federal immigration law, and he claims the Obama administration is taking away his authority for political reasons. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose office faces racial profiling allegations over crime and immigration sweeps in some heavily Latino areas of metro Phoenix, said officials from Washington won't let him renew a deal that let his deputies make federal immigration arrests.

October 6th, 2009 Detained immigrants could be categorized by riskWASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano promised immigration enforcement would continue even though her agency is considering new ways to house nonviolent immigrants who have not committed crimes. Napolitano spoke at a news conference Tuesday at which she released detention reform recommendations based on a review by her former detention adviser, who resigned last month to become commissioner of New York City's jails.

September 25th, 2009 AP Interview: Leader has back-up immigration planWASHINGTON — The head of the nation's leading Latino legal advocacy group said if comprehensive immigration legislation seems unlikely in 2010, Congress should make down payments by passing smaller-scale reforms. In an interview with The Associated Press Friday, Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said he fully expects work on rewriting immigration law to begin in Congress next year.

September 4th, 2009 Ex-immigration agent accused of cocaine smugglingTUCSON, Ariz. — Authorities say a former high-ranking U.S.

August 18th, 2009 AP source: Immigration a topic at White HouseWASHINGTON — The White House plans to host a discussion on immigration on Thursday with advocates, faith-based groups, businesses and law enforcement officials. An administration official says that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will lead the discussion.

August 6th, 2009 AP sources: Feds return to run detention centersWASHINGTON — The Homeland Security Department intends to put federal employees in charge of monitoring the treatment of detainees in the country's largest immigration detention facilities, two years after the government turned that job over to a private company. The Obama administration plans to place 23 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials at the largest detention facilities to supervise how the detention centers are managed, according to people briefed on the plan.

July 28th, 2009 Immigration detention falls short of standardsLOS ANGELES — Immigrant advocates say the federal government has failed to meet its own standards for detaining immigrants, making it difficult for immigrants to defend themselves in court and fight to remain in the country. A report released Tuesday says detainees face limited access to phones, mail and law libraries in violation of federal standards.

July 28th, 2009 Ex-Armenian consul arrested in immigration probeLOS ANGELES — Officials say they have arrested a former Armenian consul and an immigration attorney following a two-year investigation into an alleged document scam. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say in a statement Tuesday that 52-year old former consul Norair Ghalumian (Nor-EHR' Guh-LOOH'-mee-ehn) and four others are accused of obtaining and selling letters to immigrants facing deportation to help block their removal to Armenia.

July 1st, 2009 Administration launches immigration crackdownWASHINGTON — The Obama administration launched investigations of hundreds of businesses around the country Wednesday as part of its strategy to focus immigration enforcement on the employers who hire illegal workers. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has begun notifying businesses of plans to audit their I-9 forms — employment eligibility documents that employers fill out for every worker — the agency told members of Congress in an e-mail Wednesday.

June 19th, 2009 ICE: Drug fugitive dubbed Ghost arrested in OhioCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Federal immigration officials say they've arrested a Mexican fugitive who is nicknamed the Ghost and is accused of trafficking high-potency heroin throughout the Midwest. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Khaalid Walls says Jose "Carlos" Hernandez Salazar was taken into custody Tuesday in central Ohio.

June 17th, 2009 AG Holder says agents will get new powersWASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder says federal immigration agents will get expanded powers to help fight Mexican drug cartels. Holder says an announcement is imminent on a new agreement between the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security.

April 30th, 2009 Obama: Can't go on with broken immigration systemWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the United States can't continue with a "broken" immigration system. He says it's not good for anybody.

April 29th, 2009 Nominee to head ICE wants more drug-arrest powerWASHINGTON — The nominee to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement has picked up support from a key lawmaker for expanding the agency's authority to investigate drug crimes. John Morton, on track for confirmation, met with Sen.

April 22nd, 2009 Senate hears from FEMA and immigration nomineesWASHINGTON — The president's nominees to lead the nation's disaster response and immigration enforcement agencies are headed to Capitol Hill for confirmation hearings in the Senate. Federal Emergency Management Agency nominee Craig Fugate faces questions from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee about hurricane preparedness and response.