Obama Admin. Deporting Fewer Immigrants

The number of deportations under the Obama administration is steadily decreasing this year, which could result in the fewest number of immigrants deported in nearly a decade.

That news comes as the administration fights a legal challenge over President Obama's plan, announced last year, to shield millions of immigrants living in the country illegally from deportation.

That effort is on hold after a federal judge in Texas blocked its implementation.

As of mid-April, federal immigration officials have sent home about 127,000 people, almost 20,000 people a month since the start of the fiscal year in October.

At the current pace, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is on track to deport the fewest number of immigrants since President Bush's administration sent nearly 208,000 people back to their countries of origin in 2006.

"It's clear to me that the department no longer seems to have a will to enforce immigration laws," said Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says the Border Patrol arrested about 151,800 people trying to cross the Mexican border illegally, the fewest number of people caught at the border during the same period over the last four years.

"There's lower intake, lower apprehensions," Johnson said Tuesday. "There are fewer people attempting to cross the southern border, and there are fewer people apprehended."