Illegal Immigration Bust Near Idaho-Oregon Border

March 7, 2007 10:55 AM EST


Idaho-Oregon Border -- An illegal immigration bust happened near the Idaho-Oregon border Tuesday morning.

Just before 10:30 a.m., Idaho State Police officers stopped a van at milepost 12 on Highway 95.

Inside the van, they found 18 illegal immigrants.

"We were on a criminal interdiction out here on U.S. Highway 95. Earlier this afternoon, one of our officers stopped a vehicle that had some illegal aliens in the vehicle that were apparently being transported to the Idaho area," said Lt. Kevin Hudgens with Idaho State Police.

Sixteen of the occupants told officers they paid $1,000 each for the driver and his partner, also believed to be illegal immigrants, to smuggle them into the U.S. to work in the Caldwell area.


When Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents started to arrest the driver, he and his partner took off. And as ISP officer, Cpl. Craig Boll, chased the two, he stumbled and fell, breaking his ankle and leg.

He underwent surgery Tuesday afternoon at West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell.

The driver and his partner were eventually caught.

All of the illegal immigrants are now being held in Owhyee County on federal immigration charges.



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