State troopers round up 48 suspected illegal immigrants

Associated Press - August 1, 2007 8:14 PM ET

DENVER (AP) - The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition plans a vigil tonight (8 p.m.) for people affected by the arrests of 48 suspected illegal immigrants in the mountains yesterday.

The 48 were arrested after traffic stops on Interstate 70 by state troopers newly trained to operate under the authority of federal immigration agents.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Carl Rusnok says all those arrested were from Mexico. Rusnok says an infant U.S. citizen also was among those troopers encountered.

Some members of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition are questioning whether certain races were targeted for the traffic stops.

Master Trooper Ron Watkins has said vehicles could be stopped only for suspected traffic violations.

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