http://www.timescommunity.com/site/t...d=511694&rfi=6


05/18/2006

By Jason Jacks

jjacks@timespapers.com

Three illegal aliens, who stowed into Fort Belvoir in the back of a rental truck, were arrested and turned over to federal immigration authorities May 8. According to post officials, this is the fourth time this year undocumented workers have been caught on post.
Military police apprehended the men near Fort Belvoir's John J. Kingman gate.


Maj. Christopher Butler, the post's director of emergency services, told The Belvoir Eagle newspaper that an “anonymous caller” alerted military police that the three were riding in the back of a Budget rental truck on post heading north on Gunston Road. The truck's rear door was open, he said.

After their arrest, the unidentified men were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities.

Due to lack of evidence, though, police said the driver, who claimed to work for a private moving company, was not arrested.

Ernestine Fobbs, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, said the three are from Guatemala, Mexico and El Salvador.

Due to a prior record, one was still in federal custody as of May 12. The other two were released pending a court appearance. All three face deportation.

In a brief interview, Butler said his office has no written policy with respect to handing over illegal aliens to immigration authorities.

“The bottom line is that we do not prosecute these people on post. So we turn them over to the authority that does, which is U.S. Immigration,” he said.

He said seven similar incidences occurred last year. In this newest case, he would not speculate on why the men entered Fort Belvoir.

“We are not immune from this type of thing,” said Jennifer Albert, a post spokesperson.

In terms of military police searching for illegal aliens, she said, “It is not anything we stepped up. ...MPs are always vigilant.”





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