WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is ordering immigration agents to ask immigrants they encounter living in the country illegally whether they might qualify under President Barack Obama's plans to avoid deporting them.

Internal training materials obtained by The Associated Press also show that agents are being told to review government files to identify any jailed immigrants they might be able to release under the program.

The directives from the Homeland Security Department mark an unusual change for U.S. immigration enforcement. They place the obligation on the government for identifying immigrants who might qualify for lenient treatment.

It's like the Internal Revenue Service calling taxpayers to recommend that they should have used certain exemptions or deductions.

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