Thread: In Ark., 24 suspected illegal immigrants arrested

In Ark., 24 suspected illegal immigrants arrested




Associated Press - April 30, 2008 5:54 PM ET

LITTLE ROCK (AP) - Federal agents have arrested 24 suspected illegal immigrants working on a construction project near the Little Rock National Airport -- but not inside the airport's secured areas.

Officials of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said ICE agents raided a construction project at the site of Supermarine. That company provides fuel and supplies to corporate and private aircraft. Temple Black, a spokesman for ICE at New Orleans, said the raid came as local police served an arrest warrant on a U.S. citizen facing a drunken-driving charge. Black said ICE had gotten a tip about illegal immigrants working at the construction site, and decided to carry out their raid at the same time local police went to make the DWI arrest.

Black said the raid was part of ICE's effort to target illegal immigrants with access to critical areas like airport, military installations and nuclear power plants. However, airport spokeswoman T.J. Williams said the construction site is outside of the secured areas where the runways and terminal sit.

Black said all of those arrested were Mexican nationals, except for one person from Peru. Mexican consul Andres Chao said officials from the Little Rock consulate began speaking to the arrested Mexicans immediately after the raid.

http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=8250655

Black said all of those arrested were Mexican nationals, except for one person from Peru. Mexican consul Andres Chao said officials from the Little Rock consulate began speaking to the arrested Mexicans immediately after the raid.

How do Mexican consulate officials have access to those arrested IMMEDIATELY after the raid? Don't they need to be processed first?