New federal numbers show that Arizona saw a nearly 12 percent drop in the number of immigrants deported so far this year.
The Arizona Republic reports newly released data showed that in 2013 close to 35,000 people were deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's operations in Arizona
The decrease comes as President Barrack Obama has been under growing pressure from immigration advocates and some members of Congress to ease up on record deportations. Nationally, the country saw a 10 percent decrease from the previous year and the first time deportations dropped since Obama took office in 2009.
ICE officials say one of the reasons the agency deported fewer people in 2013 is that the agency is focusing more attention on catching and removing serious criminals.
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Information from: The Arizona Republic.
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