美司法部长塞申斯宣布对非法入境“零容忍”政策

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday announced a "zero-tolerance" policy for illegal entry into the United States, instructing all federal prosecutors along the southern border to prioritize the prosecution of criminal immigration cases referred to by the Department of Homeland Security.

In a memo released on Friday, Sessions urged U.S. Attorneys in the border states of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas, "to adopt immediately a zero-tolerance policy for all offenses referred for prosecution" under laws that make it a crime to enter the United States without proper documents.

"This zero-tolerance policy shall supersede any existing policies," Sessions wrote. "If adopting such a policy requires additional resources, each office shall identify and request such additional resources."

In making the announcement, Sessions cited Department of Homeland Security data released Thursday showing a 203 percent increase in illegal border crossings from March 2017 to March 2018 and a 37 percent increase from February to March of this year -- the largest month-to-month rise in seven years after period when crossings had fallen off.

The announcement came a day after President Donald Trump said he would deploy 2,000 to 4,000 National Guard troops to secure the border.

Trump said he would keep the troops there until a border wall is built to keep out illegal border crossers.

But his administration is continuing to work with governors of the four border states on deals that would allow the Guard to be deployed. The National Guard is a force of reserve soldiers under the auspices of the states.