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Sep 13, 7:31 PM EDT

34 alleged illegal immigrants caught in sweep

CARBONDALE, Colo. (AP) -- Nearly three dozen illegal immigrants were detained in a sweep of the Roaring Fork Valley this week called "Operation Return to Sender."

The immigration agents targeted 34 illegal immigrants who have already been ordered to leave the country but had remained, including seven with criminal records.

"Taking fugitive aliens off our streets is a top ICE priority," said Douglas Maurer of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Agency. He said the immigrants were picked up Monday and Tuesday with the aid of Garfield County Sheriff's deputies, and 12 have already been deported to Mexico.

The group included 22 from Mexico, nine from El Salvador and three from Honduras. Two may be prosecuted because they had previously been deported, and returning to the United States is a felony.

Maurer said the arrests made in early morning raids were meant to "reverse the tolerance of illegal employment and illegal immigration in the United States."

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