Lawmakers, White House propose immigration initiatives

by Vicki Needham - 05/25/10 7:43 PM ET

Republicans argue that the program has worked to reduce — by 94 percent — illegal immigration in the areas where it has been used.

But several recent studies counter that argument, saying any decline is probably due to the recession and that the program should be scrapped, with focus shifted to prosecuting those who are most likely to cause violence or already have criminal records. The studies found the program jams courts with petty immigration cases, instead of serious ones.

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