Local News in Brief : Amnesty Rules May Ease

A group of public interest lawyers said Tuesday that some illegal aliens with criminal records may be able to expunge their convictions in order to apply for legalization under the nation’s amnesty law.

But federal immigration officials, while acknowledging that their policy toward immigrants with criminal records was under review, cautioned that any change in policy has not been announced. The yearlong amnesty program ends May 4.

The lawyers, who included immigrant advocates, public defenders and members of the National Lawyers Guild, said at a press conference in Los Angeles that they have learned the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service plans to allow immigrants who have been convicted of most misdemeanors and even some felonies to expunge crimes from their records. At present, any illegal alien who has a criminal record consisting of a felony or more than three misdemeanors is not eligible for amnesty.

The applicants would have to have completed their sentences and probation terms and have no current offenses on their records, the lawyers said.