Reno defends deportations

Washington (Reuter) - Janet Reno, US Attorney General, said yesterday that the new immigration law would lead to more deportations but not on a massive scale.

She said the Justice Department would vigorously defend the law against court challenges, including one by immigrant advocates over the procedures affecting asylum seekers at the border.

"What we want to try to do is to make sure that it is enforced fairly. We are committed to enforcing the law, but to ensuring that it is done so in a just and humane manner," she said. "Our overwhelming efforts will be to focus on those individuals illegally in this country who have engaged in criminal activity," she added.