ATLANTA --- There was a 63 percent increase in illegal immigrants deported from Georgia and the Carolinas in the 12 months ending in October, and thousands of criminals were tagged for removal from the country upon their release from prison, federal officials said Thursday.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Atlanta Field Office of Detention and Removal carried out a record 17,955 deportation orders, compared with 11,006 the previous year, officials said.

They were among more than 40,000 people the field office processed in the three states during the 2008 fiscal year.

With help from state and local authorities, ICE said it identified 9,182 illegal immigrants who were incarcerated. Georgia led the way with more than 4,700.

In addition, the agency began removal proceedings against another 7,000 criminals in state, local and federal jails and prisons, an increase from 3,722 in 2007.

The agency also said fugitive teams in the three states arrested 1,938 people who had been ordered deported by immigration judges but failed to comply.