http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stori ... 10246.html

August 29, 2006

Las Vegas authorities arrest 109 illegal immigrants in sweep

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAS VEGAS (AP) - In a six-day sweep called "Operation Return to Sender," federal authorities said Tuesday they had arrested 109 illegal immigrants and sent 35 out of the country.

The remaining detainees were in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement awaiting a hearing with an immigration judge, the agency said.

More than half of those arrested, or 57, had criminal records, including past convictions for robbery, assault, drug charges and sex offenses, the agency said.

"Taking immigration fugitives off of our streets and restoring integrity to our nation's immigration system is one of ICE's top priorities," said Jim Hayes, an agency field director for Los Angeles and Las Vegas, in a statement.

"Our message is - if you are ordered deported you should obey the immigration court's order. Otherwise, ICE is going to track you down and send you home."

Most of those arrested were Mexican nationals, but the detainees were also from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, the Philippines, Colombia, Belgium, Iran, Cuba and Korea.

The sweep was the second major operation by the immigration team in the Las Vegas area in the last three months.