Undocumented immigrants in U.S. lowest since 2004

WASHINGTON — The number of immigrants in the U.S. without legal status has declined to its lowest level since 2004, according to a new report released Tuesday. The nonpartisan Pew Research Center said 10.7 million immigrants lacked legal status in 2016, down from 11 million a year earlier and from a peak of 12.2 million in 2007 before the U.S. economy slumped.

Republicans debate path of sentencing overhaul

WASHINGTON — Republican senators debated the path forward for an overhaul of the nation’s criminal sentencing laws Tuesday after a visit from Vice President Mike Pence, suggesting parts of the bill may need to be rewritten before Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will hold a vote. Pence and President Donald Trump’s son-inlaw, Jared Kushner, visited Capitol Hill Tuesday to push for the bipartisan criminal justice overhaul, which would boost rehabilitation efforts for federal prisoners and give judges more discretion when sentencing nonviolent offenders, particularly for drug offenses. But McConnell has yet to agree to take up the legislation. Other senators in his caucus have objected to it, saying it would be too soft on drug offenders and that it could let some violent offenders out of prison.

Trump slams Fed chief

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he thinks the Federal Reserve’s policies are a greater threat to U.S. economic growth than a burgeoning trade war with China.

Trump told The Washington Post on Tuesday: “I think the Fed is a much bigger problem than China.” Trump added that he is “not even a little bit happy” with Fed Chairman Jay Powell, whom he selected last year.