Thread: Charlotte squad focuses on illegal immigrants

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/ ... 635859.htm

Posted on Mon, Jan. 16, 2006
Charlotte squad focuses on illegal immigrants

FRANCO ORDOÑEZ
fordonez@charlotteobserver.com

U.S. Customs and Immigration agency is building a team of federal officers in Charlotte as part of a wide-scale effort to search out fugitive illegal immigrants.

The Charlotte team, one of 52 nationwide, will be made up of five to seven members focused on tracking down and deporting immigrants who have failed to comply with a judge's order to leave the country.

"The days of ignoring immigration law are over," Marc Raimondi, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman, said. "A failure to comply is not an option. The person ordered to be removed needs to comply with that order or we'll assist them with compliance."

About 12,000 illegal immigrant fugitives live in North Carolina, immigration officials said. Each fugitive-hunting team's goal is to make 1,000 arrests a year, which includes fugitive arrests and arrests of any illegal immigrants in their company.

One officer has been placed on duty in Charlotte. The rest of the team is being hired and trained, immigration officials said.

"It's a good start. We should have done it earlier. But better late than never," said Ron Woodard, head of N.C. Listen, an immigration reform group in Cary. "To think of people illegally in the country who have been convicted of crimes are walking around is outrageous."

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