Associated Press - August 16, 2007 6:25 PM ET

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Federal agents flew 168 illegal immigrants back to Africa this week, including 96 with criminal records.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say the group was rounded up from detention facilities around the country. They took a government-chartered flight out of Niagara Falls Tuesday en route to Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria.

Their criminal records included convictions for homicide, sexual assault, drug dealing, prostitution and other crimes.

In fiscal year 2006, ICE removed a record 197,804 illegal immigrants from the country. Already in fiscal year 2007, ICE has removed 217,599 individuals.

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