US to ramp up efforts to criminally prosecute illegal border-crossers

Trump signed a memorandum on Friday ordering the end of the policy known as 'catch and release', in which illegal immigrants are released from detention while awaiting a court hearing on their status

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions ramped up calls on Friday to criminally prosecute immigrants who cross illegally into the United States, adding to a barrage of statements on immigration by the administration of President Donald Trump this week.  

Pointing to an upswing in border crossings to levels seen during former President Barack Obama’s tenure, Sessions said he was ordering US attorneys offices near the Southwest border to prioritise bringing cases against first-time offenders.

Once border crossers are charged with illegal entry and deported, they can be charged with a felony carrying significant jail time if they are caught crossing illegally again.

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