Thursday, October 11, 2007
Regional Briefs
Immigration officials quiet about arrests

JOURNAL STAFF REPORT
http://www.journalnow.com




A spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement refused yesterday to release the names of foreign nationals who were arrested on immigration violations as part of what the agency has said is a roundup of gang members, their associates, and others in the country illegally.

ICE officials announced on Tuesday that the roundup, which led to 1,313 arrests nationwide, resulted in 93 arrests in North Carolina. Officials said that 16 people were arrested in Winston-Salem and that four of those arrested also face local criminal charges.

That number may not be correct, said Richard Rocha, a spokesman for ICE in Washington. Rocha said it appeared that the criminal charges came from people arrested in Burlington and that he did not know what criminal charges were filed in connection with arrests in Winston-Salem.

Rocha would not release the names of those who faced civil charges for being in the country illegally, citing Department of Homeland Security policy.

He said that the agency does not identify someone charged with what the agency considers administrative violations, as that information comes from their immigration file and is protected by the federal Privacy Act of 1974.

A message left with the ICE office in Cary was not returned. That office oversees agents based in Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem police, who helped make the arrests, said they would not comment because ICE officials told them not to.

ICE officials also did not say where those arrested in Winston-Salem have been sent. ICE typically routes those arrested in North Carolina to a jail in Stewart County, Ga., Rocha said, but he said he did not know if that was the case for the 16 local arrests.

Branch of Wachovia Bank robbed by three men with gun

Three men, one with a gun, robbed the Wachovia Bank at 701 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive at 12:05 p.m. yesterday, Winston-Salem police said.

The robbers took money and ran away, and were last seen at the intersection of New Walkertown Road and Jackson Avenue. All three wore baseball caps and had bandanas over their faces.

Police asked that anyone with information call Crime Stoppers at 727-2800.


Foundation gives $100,000 to Blue Ridge Parkway program
ASHEVILLE -The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has awarded a $100,000 grant to the National Park Service for Blue Ridge Parkway rangers to conduct educational outreach programs for students in communities along its 469-mile scenic corridor.

The “Parks as Classroomsâ€