SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California will no longer keep illegal immigrants on parole after they serve their sentences and are deported.
Instead the state will leave it to the federal government to prosecute those who sneak back across the border.
The parole policy change announced Monday will save the state an estimated $10 million annually and reduce the crowded prisons' population by about 1,000 inmates.
About 1,600 deported parolees were caught back in California in 2007, according to the most recent statistics available. Previously, they'd be sent back to state prison for four to eight months for violating their parole.
Under the new policy, the suspects will be turned directly over to federal immigration authorities.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
