ICE, patrol nab 48 suspected illegal immigrants

By Marilyn Robinson, Special to the Rocky
August 1, 2007


Forty-eight suspected illegal immigrants from Mexico were taken into custody during several traffic stops Tuesday on Interstate 70 in the Colorado mountains.
The 48, along with an infant identified as a U.S. citizen, were detained by members of the State Patrol's immigration enforcement unit and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The infant and eight members of the child's family were being returned voluntarily to Mexico, said ICE spokesman Carl Rusnok. He said women and children among the detainees would be returned to Mexico last night.

Authorities encountered the first group when troopers stopped to assist a vehicle with a flat tire about 9 a.m. ICE agents then were called in. Before the day was over, authorities had stopped three other vehicles, all occupied by suspected illegal immigrants from Mexico, on traffic violations and took the occupants into custody.

The stops were made on a 26-mile stretch between the Eisenhower Tunnel and Vail Pass, said Master Trooper Ron Watkins of the Colorado State Patrol.

The patrol's immigration enforcement unit has been up and running since July 1, Watkins said.

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