She handled crime and immigration issues for Senator Spencer Abraham of Michigan and helped craft legislation designed to expedite the deportation of aliens convicted of felonies.

The Federal Government has agreed to pick up a major portion of what Hudson County is spending to keep illegal aliens convicted of crimes behind bars.

Until now, New York could seek the deportation of illegal aliens convicted of crimes only after they had served their minimum sentence; for instance, their first three years of a three- to nine-year term.

Among other things, the measure would expand the list of drug crimes that could be punished with death, and it would streamline the procedure for deporting aliens convicted of drug crimes.

But the government argued that the 1996 act also barred all judicial review of deportations against aliens convicted of crimes, so his claim should not even be heard.

Additionally, taxpayers are saddled with the soaring costs of prosecuting criminal activity by illegal aliens and for jail and prison costs of illegal aliens convicted of crimes.

They have sued the Federal Government to recover some of the money they have spent on imprisoning illegal aliens convicted of crimes, educating illegal aliens and paying their Medicaid costs.

IIRIRA required that aliens convicted of aggravated felonies must be detained while awaiting removal, resulting in the detention of far more aliens than before the Act took effect.

The proposal includes expanding the death penalty and streamlining the procedure for deporting aliens convicted of drug crimes.

Two New York lawmakers have introduced a proposal in Congress to relieve state prison overcrowding by converting three closed military bases into lockups for 4,500 illegal aliens convicted of the most serious crimes.