Homeland Security says it has a 'renewed focus' on going after illegal aliens and their employers

The Department of Homeland Security said yesterday it has "a renewed department-wide focus targeting criminal aliens and employers who cultivate illegal workplaces." It said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents "will use all available civil and administrative tools, including civil fines."

"ICE will focus its resources in the worksite enforcement program on the criminal prosecution of employers who knowingly hire illegal workers in order to target the root cause of illegal immigration," DHS said in a statement posted on its Web site yesterday. In the Bush administration, the agency was accused of being too easy on employers.

Tom Johnston of MeatingPlace.com reports the agency plans to conduct "carefully planned criminal investigations." (Read more) Several meatpacking plants in rural areas have been targets of ICE raids.