LOS ANGELES, May 29: The US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has decided to free 50 per cent of illegal immigrants it has been ordered to surrender since Sept 11.

A CBS investigative report said on Tuesday the main reasons for freeing the detainees were shortage of manpower and space.

“A big part of the problem is staffing in the districts,” said Vincent Smith, President of Capital Bonding Corp, the company which submits bonds and guarantees bails on behalf of illegal immigrants. “There just aren’t that many field officers,” he said.

The report showed video tape of a recent INS gaffe in which it set free a Syrian absconder.

Although there is no evidence linking this man to terrorism, he is the United States illegally. And the INS itself ordered the CBC to produce him for deportation.

As the cameras rolled, two bondsmen tracked the man down and arrested him. When everyone arrived at the INS, the CBS cameras were told to wait outside.