Homeland Security shifts policy to target employers with illegal workers

By Josh Meyer and Anna Gorman Chicago Tribune Washington Bureau March 31, 2009
www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-immigration_tuesmar31,0,5809124.story
WASHINGTON ? Stepping into the political minefield of Immigration reform, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will soon direct federal agents to emphasize targeting American employers for arrest and prosecution over the laborers who enter the country illegally to work for them, department officials said Monday. The shift in emphasis will be outlined in revamped field guidelines issued to agents of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement division as early as this week, according to several officials familiar with the change in policy. It is in keeping with comments that President Barack Obama made during last year's campaign, when he said past enforcement efforts have failed because they focused on illegal immigrants rather than the companies that hire them?