WASHINGTON

Despite postponed action, immigrant deportations down

President Obama is on pace this year to deport the fewest number of immigrants since at least 2007, even as he has postponed until after Election Day his promised unilateral action that could shield millions more from deportation.

According to an analysis of Homeland Security Department figures by The Associated Press, the federal agency responsible for deportations sent home 258,608 immigrants between the start of the budget year last October and July 28.

During the same period a year earlier, it removed 320,167 people – meaning a decrease this year of nearly 20 percent.

NEW YORK

Catholic League will sit out next St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The Catholic League says it will sit out next year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York because parade organizers aren’t letting an anti-abortion group march.

Parade organizers said last week that they would allow OUT@NBCUniversal to march. That’s an LGBT resource group at the company that broadcasts the parade.

Bill Donohue, who heads the Catholic League, says parade organizers promised him that if a gay group could march under its own banner, an anti-abortion Catholic group would be included also. He says the organizers backed out of their pledge.

HELENA, Mont.

Man accused in Letterman’s son kidnap plot released

A man who was accused of plotting to kidnap talk-show host David Letterman’s young son and nanny nine years ago has been released from a Montana prison.

Montana Department of Corrections spokeswoman Judy Beck says Kelly Frank was released Thursday morning after his parole request was granted in June.

– From news service reports