Per this:

Criminal arrests, administrative arrests, indictments and convictions of illegal immigrants at work sites all fell by more than 50 percent from fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2009... Fiscal 2008 ran from Oct. 1, 2007, through Sept. 30, 2008. Fiscal 2009 began Oct. 1, 2008, and ran through Sept. 30 of this year.

The exact figures are:

* Criminal arrests: down 60%
* Criminal indictments: down 58%
* Convictions: down 63%
* Administrative arrests: down 68%

The DHS is a bit defensive:

"These statistics reflect a myopic, outdated and distorted view of effective enforcement," said Homeland Security spokesman Matt Chandler. "Just a week ago, we highlighted the more than 11,000 murderers, rapists and kidnappers identified in our jails by the Secure Communities program in the last year, nearly 2,000 of which have already been deported. ICE has prioritized its enforcement efforts by focusing on hardened criminals and employers who knowingly hire illegal workers and break the law."

The ACLU opposes the Secure Communities program, and other far-left groups at least have serious questions about it. Expect them to have a good deal of influence on what the Obama administration does.

At the link, Lamar Smith, channeling me, asks why Janet Napolitano isn't trying to free up jobs for American workers. Resulting in:

"I would argue that Napolitano's being tough and smart, rather than what Chertoff did, which was looking tough but giving employers a pass," (Frank Sharry of America's Voice) said. "I would suggest Lamar Smith is more interested in expelling millions of illegal workers than truly getting tough on bad-actor employers."

He's right about Chertoff, but that applies to Napolitano as well. She's trying to look tough in order to get comprehensive immigration reform, the same tactic employed by Chertoff. And, I'd argue that Sharry and the Obama administration have little interest in freeing up jobs for unemployed American workers but have different priorities.