Thread: NM-Illegal immigrants detained in traffic stop

Illegal immigrants detained in traffic stop
Posted: 04/08/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT
By James Monteleone

SAN JUAN COUNTY — Thirteen illegal immigrants were taken into custody from a camper-top pickup truck stopped Tuesday on U.S. 64 after law enforcement witnessed the vehicle U-turn to avoid a checkpoint near Dulce, authorities said.
Found in the cab of the truck were seven people: two men, four women and a teen girl. Six additional men were in the camper extension. All 13 are suspected to be illegal immigrants, said San Juan County Undersheriff Mark McCloskey.

Although none of the passengers clearly spoke English, the group claimed to be traveling from Atlanta to Flagstaff, Ariz., for landscaping and housekeeping work, McCloskey said. The license plate of the GMC truck is registered in Georgia.

Authorities in Rio Arriba County saw the eastbound pickup truck turn around to avoid police contact at a checkpoint near Dulce just after
7 a.m. Tuesday.

Authorities in Rio Arriba alerted San Juan County officials to the incident and the vehicle's description as it entered the county.

Approximately a hour later, the truck was stopped by a San Juan County Sheriff's deputy who identified the truck near mile marker 73 on U.S. 64.

All 13 of the vehicles passengers were taken into custody at the San Juan County Detention Center on an immigration hold. None is charged with a crime.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officials intended to transport the detainees from Farmington to Albuquerque on Tuesday, the Sheriff's Office said.


http://www.daily-times.com/ci_12095090

The direction they were going in the article also seems to be off. If they were headed to Flagstaff instead of away some employer is in a heap of trouble what with the new laws.