The released immigrants were awaiting deportation, but under a loophole in the law, were eligible for release into U.S. communities.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, released the Department of Homeland Security data Thursday.
“The public needs to know when a person is in the country illegally, and who has been convicted of a homicide, is released into their communities,” Grassley said. “We’ve introduced legislation that would reverse the court case that the Obama administration is relying on to excuse its irresponsible release of thousands of criminally convicted aliens.”
During the 2013 fiscal year, more than 36,000 immigrants with criminal records were released from DHS custody even as they were put on track for deportation. The process of releasing immigrants in deportation proceedings is fairly common and part of DHS’s “catch and release” program. The Obama administration has repeatedly said it prioritizes deporting dangerous criminals over immigrants whose only crime was crossing the border illegally.