The US deported more illegal immigrants than ever before during the first 2 years of President Obama’s administration. “In both fiscal years 2009 and 2010, Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed more illegal immigrants than ever before, with more than 779,000 removals nationwide in the last 2 years,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said. The Obama administration must prove it is tough on illegal immigrants and can secure the country’s porous borders if it is to stand a chance of passing a comprehensive overhaul of America’s tattered immigration system. The so-called DREAM Act, which would have offered a path to citizenship to young undocumented immigrants who attend college or join the military, fell short in December of the 60 votes needed to advance through the Senate. Obama dubbed its failure his “biggest disappointment” and insisted he was “persistent” and “determined” to overhaul a system which has left some 11 million undocumented people residing in the US. (AFP)