CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is launching pilot programs in Denver and Baltimore allowing immigration attorneys to prioritize cases.

The program is designed to allow prosecutors to focus on people who are real threats to the community, including drug traffickers and sex predators, instead of those who have jobs, have never committed a crime or those seeking higher education.

ICE said Wednesday it only has an annual budget to deport 400,000 people, when an estimated 12 million are in the U.S. illegally.

"We know that we have limited resources and just like any family needing to prioritize with what they make every month -- so does the federal government," said Barbara Gonzalez, press secretary for ICE.

"The program also focuses on individuals who have been deported and have unlawfully entered the country illegally again," said Gonzalez.

The program will allow attorneys to administratively close low priority cases.

"It could be for things such as service in the military or a family member who may have served in the military, someone who was brought here as a child and never committed a crime, the elderly, someone who may be the sole caregiver and again -- no criminal history, no threat to the community," said Gonzalez.

ICE is careful to point out this is not amnesty and does not give people lawful U.S. status just because their case is administratively closed.

Also, ICE said people cannot apply for low-priority status; instead the government will review cases automatically.

If you have evidence of illegal immigration, please contact the main DHS Hotline for assistance: 866-DHS-2ICE.