Feds release first illegal immigrants in Georgia

[The Northerner]

Federal authorities on Tuesday night began freeing illegal immigrants facing deportation from Georgia, releasing two teenagers from custody by using controversial new guidelines the Obama administration announced last week.

Homeland Security Department officials confirmed that Pedro Morales, 19, of Dalton and Luis “Ricky” Hernandez, 18, of Calhoun had been let out of the Stewart Detention Center in South Georgia and their cases dismissed.

By freeing illegal immigrants, critics say, the Obama administration is ignoring federal immigration laws. They also contend the government has not done enough to stem the flow of illegal immigrants to Georgia.

However, proponents of the new policy said it made sense for the government to focus its limited resources on killers, rapists and terrorists. They were hoping this would lead to the eventual passage of the Dream Act. That measure — which failed in Congress last year — would give illegal immigrants a path to legal status if they came here as children, graduated from high school and attended college or served in the military.

Read more: http://www.ajc.com/news/feds-release-first-illegal-1135315.html