The release took place in February, AP reported.
However, four prisoners who were considered particularlydangerous were re-imprisoned.
Earlier, the US administration claimed that just “a fewhundred” undocumented immigrants had been freed, saying thatthe news reports of more than 2,000 detainees being released wereuntrue.
However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director JohnMorton said Thursday that ICE had released 2,228 illegal immigrantsdue to the budget cuts imposed as part of ‘sequestration.’
He defended the move by claiming that the alternative would havebeen a reduction of investigations into smuggling and childpornography, according to Reuters.
"We were trying to live within the budget that Congress hadprovided us," Morton explained during a House AppropriationsSubcommittee hearing. “We have limited resources.”
The official also indicated that it cost around $122 a day tokeep someone in a detention center, compared to about $7 a day tomonitor them with electronic devices.
The acknowledgement of the release came as Obama administrationofficials warned of the severe consequences of the spending cuts,such as delayed flights, meat shortages and governmentlayoffs.
Republicans have alleged that the Obama administration freed theimmigrants to pressure lawmakers into undoing the automatic budgetcuts, Reuters reported.
